Fricke, Anna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1188-0114, Titlyanova, Tamara V., Nugues, Maggy M. and Bischof, Kai (2013) Neosiphonia howei (Ceramiales: Rhodomelaceae)—a common epiphyte of the spreading coral reef alga Lobophora variegata (Dictyotales: Dictyotaceae). Marine Biodiversity Records, 6 . e3. DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267212001121.

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Abstract

Fleshy macroalgae are becoming a dominant benthic component on Caribbean coral reefs, with increased abundance and frequency across all reef zones. Over the past two decades, the brown alga Lobophora variegata has proliferated on shallow and deep reefs in Curaçao, former Netherlands Antilles. This alga provides a living substrate for a diverse epiphytic community. Here we report on Neosiphonia howei (Rhodomelaceae: Ceramiales), growing epiphytically on L. variegata over a broad depth gradient (6.5 to 40 m). Although N. howei has been reported as a typical epiphyte in shallow water, it was commonly found on L. variegata blades on the reef slope in all fertile stages. This epiphyte anchored deeply into the host tissue, suggesting hemiparasitic behaviour. The spread of L. variegata may have increased the depth-range of N. howei and the exact nature of the interaction between N. howei and its host deserves further research considering the importance of fleshy macroalgae on coral reefs.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:	Ecology > Algae and Seagrass Ecology
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267212001121
ISSN:	1755-2672
Date Deposited:	16 Aug 2019 12:20
Last Modified:	03 Mar 2026 13:50
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/2637

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