Lessonia (alga) explained

Lessonia is a genus of large kelp native to the southern Pacific Ocean. It is restricted to the southern hemisphere and is distributed along the coasts of South America, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the Antarctic islands.[1] [2] The genus was first described by Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent in 1825.[3]

The genus name of Lessonia is in honour of René Primevère Lesson (1794–1849), who was a French surgeon, naturalist, ornithologist, and herpetologist.[4]

This is one of two principal genera in kelp forests (the other is Macrocystis). In Chile, the preservation of Lessonia kelp is an important to help preserve the biodiversity that exists on rocky shores. By studying the harvesting of these wild populations of Lessonia kelp marine biologists are able to analyze the effects of this activity on wildlife.[5]

In New Zealand there are at least four species that belong to this genus. L. tholiformis is only found on the Chatham Islands. L. adamsiae is only found on the Snares Islands.

Some species are of economic importance, such as Lessonia nigrescens, which is harvested for alginate.[6]

Species

Notes and References

  1. Cho . G. Y. . Klochkova . N. G. . Krupnova . T. N. . Boo . S. M. . 2006 . The reclassification of Lessonia laminarioides (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae): Pseudolessonia gen. nov. 1 . Journal of Phycology . 42 . 6 . 1289–1299 . 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2006.00280.x . 2015-09-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091422/http://www.myalgae.org/thesis_file/1224729309.pdf . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  2. Book: Nelson, W. A.. New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide. Te Papa Press. 2013. 9780987668813. Wellington, New Zealand. 98. 841897290. Wendy Nelson (marine scientist).
  3. Searles. R. B.. 1978-01-01. The genus Lessonia Bory (Phaeophyta, Laminariales) in Southern Chile and Argentina. British Phycological Journal. 13. 4. 361–381. 10.1080/00071617800650421. free.
  4. Book: Burkhardt, Lotte . Eine Enzyklopädie zu eponymischen Pflanzennamen . Encyclopedia of eponymic plant names . Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin . 2022 . 978-3-946292-41-8 . pdf . German . Berlin . 10.3372/epolist2022 . January 27, 2022.
  5. Orostica . M. H. . Aguilera . M. A. . Donoso . G. A. . Vásquez . J. A. . Broitman . B. R. . 2014 . Effect of grazing on distribution and recovery of harvested stands of Lessonia berteroana kelp in northern Chile . Marine Ecology Progress Series . 511 . 71–82 . 10.3354/meps10931. 10533/137292 . free .
  6. Venegas . M. . Tala . F. . Fonck . E. . Vásquez . J. . January 1992 . Sporangial sori on stipes of Lessonia nigrescens Bory (Laminariales, Phaeophyta): A high frequency phenomenon in intertidal populations of northern Chile . Botanica Marina . 35 . 6 . 573–578 . 10.1515/botm.1992.35.6.573.

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