Choreocolax polysiphoniae explained

Choreocolax polysiphoniae is a minute marine parasitic alga in the division Rhodophyta.

Description

This small parasitic alga grows on the red alga Polysiphonia lanosa. It grows as an irregular sphere on the fronds of the alga, reaching no more than 1 mm in extent.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Habitat

Parasitic on Polysiphonia lanosa, the filaments grow into the host.^[1]

Distribution

The species has been reported from North Russia and the Pacific.^[1] In Ireland it has been confidently recorded from counties Down, Antrim^[4] and Waterford^[5] and at scattered sites around the British Isles including the Shetland Islands.^[6]

Reproduction

Cruciate tetrasporangia are produced all year round in the cortex. The gametangial are dioecious and are produced in spring and summer.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Irvine, L.M.1983. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 2A Cryptonemiales (sensu stricto) Palmariales, Rhodymeniales. British Museum (Natural History)
2. The ultrastructure of an alloparasitic red alga Choreocolax polysiphoniae. P Kugrens and JA West, Phycologia, 1973
3. Nutritional studies on the parasitic red alga Choreocolax polysiphoniae. JA Callow, ME Callow and LV Evans, New Phytologist, 1979
4. Morton, O. 1994 Marine Algae of Northern Ireland Ulster Museum
5. Cullinane, P. 1973. Phycology of the South Coast of Ireland. Cork University Press
6. Hardy, F.G. and Guiry,D. 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.London: British Phycologcal Society.