The National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme Ring Test Bulletin RM RT08

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1 The National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme Ring Test Bulletin RM RT08 Dr Emma Wells Wells Marine Surveys April

2 RING TEST DETAILS Ring Test RM RT08 Type/Contents Rockyshore Intertidal macroalgae identification Circulated 4 th February 2014 Completion Date 28 th March 2014 Number of Subscribing Laboratories 8 Number of Participating Laboratories 6 Number of Results Received 11 Table 1: Summary of Differences Total differences for 11 returns Specimen Genera Species Genus Species RT0801 Desmarestia viridis 6 8 RT0802 Ulva rigida 0 0 RT0803 Cystoclonium purpureum 0 0 RT0804 Elachista flaccida 3 3 RT0805 Eudesme virescens 3 4 RT0806 Mastocarpus stellatus 0 0 RT0807 Ascophyllum nodosum 0 0 RT0808 Bryopsis plumosa 0 0 RT0809 Delesseria sanguinea 4 4 RT0810 Osmundea osmunda 0 8 RT0811 Asperococcus fistulosus 0 1 RT0812 Ceramium gaditanum 0 6 RT0813 Laminaria hyperborea 0 0 RT0814 Boergeseniella thyoides 9 11 RT0815 Dumontia contorta 1 1 RT0816 Petalonia fascia 7 7 RT0817 Gelidium corneum 6 7 RT0818 Spongonema tomentosum 0 0 RT0819 Ulothrix flacca 1 8 RT0820 Gastroclonium ovatum 0 0 Total differences Average differences per Genus/ species

3 Identification of species RT0817 was accepted as either Gelidium corneum or its synonym G. sesquipedale. Gelidium is the most speciose genus in the family Gelidiaceae that currently includes 134 species (Boo et al, 2014 and Guiry and Guiry, 2013). Its species have been primarily described and characterised on the basis of external morphology which is quite variable within the group. In addition many of these names are based on a few herbarium specimens barely representing the range of morphological variation of the species. Therefore Gelidium has become one of the most nomenclaturally and taxonomically confused genera of the Rhodophyta (Santelices, 1988). European species of Gelidium have been especially problematic. Feldmann & Hamel (1936) in their monograph of the genus in Europe recognized ten species, each often containing two or more varieties. The most recent treatment of Gelidium in Great Britain (Dixon & Irvine 1977), suggested that most species represented environmental variants and combined five of Feldmann & Hamel's species into two species aggregates, G. latifolium (Greville) Bornet et Thuret and G. pusillurn (Stackhouse) Le Jolis (Waterman and Rueness, 1994). With this is mind it has been decided that since there can be no conclusive evidence to determine the exact identification of Species 17 that both Gelidium corneum (sesquipedale) and Gelidium pulchellum shall be accepted.

4 Table 2: The identification of intertidal macroalgae made by participating laboratories for RM RT08 (arranged by specimen). Names are given where different from the AQC identification, misspelt identifications, synonyms or acceptable alternate identifications are denoted by brackets [ ]. Lab Code Desmarestia viridis Ulva rigida Cystoclonium purpureum Elachista flaccida Eudesme virescens Mastocarpus stellatus Ascophyllum nodosum Bryopsis plumosa Delesseria sanguinea Osmundea osmunda MA2114 Gracilaria gracilis Sphacelaria cirrosa Helminthora divaricata Phycodrys rubens pinnatifida MA2110 MA2103a MA2103b MA2103c MA2103d MA2103e MA2121 MA2131a MA2131b MA2112 aculeata Phycodrys rubens pinnatifida Rhodomela confervoides Gracilaria verrucosa Rhodomela confervoides pinnatifida pinnatifida aculeata Erythrotrichia carnea [virridis] Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus Chordaria flagelliformis Dudresnaya verticillata Chordaria flagelliformis hybrida Phycodrys rubens pinnatifida Phycodrys rubens pinnatifida Chordariacea Eudesme pinnatifida

5 Table 2 continued Lab Code MA2114 MA2110 MA2103a MA2103b MA2103c MA2103d Asperococcus fistulosus Ceramium gaditanum Laminaria hyperborea Boergeseniella thyoides Dumontia contorta Petalonia fascia virgatum fructiculosa virgatum compressus nodulosum nodulosum Punctaria plantaginea Punctaria plantaginea Punctaria latifolia Punctaria plantaginea Gelidium corneum Chondria dasyphylla Pterocladiella capillacea Spongonema tomentosum Ulothrix flacca Gastroclonium ovatum implexa speciosa [Gstrocolonium] [ pulchelllum] speciosa [ pulchelllum] speciosa latifolium/ spinosum speciosa MA2103e MA2121 MA2131a MA2131b MA2112 fructiculosa nodulosum Ceramium Nemalion helminthoides [cortorta] Saccharina latissima Saccharina latissima Asperococcus compressus Pterocladia capillacea Pterocladiella capillacea Pterocladiella capillacea Pterocladiella capillacea speciosa Urospora penicilliformis Ulothrix

6 Genus Species MA2103e MA2103a MA2103c MA2110 MA2103d MA2103b MA2121 MA2112 MA2131b MA2114 MA2131a Figure 1: The number of differences from the AQC identification of intertidal macroalgae specimens, for each of the participating laboratories for RT08, arranged in order of increasing number of differences.

Detailed breakdown of specimen identifications RT0801 Desmarestia viridis (Figure 2a) Six generic

aculeata (Figure 2b) (this has regular opposite branching and is generally less densely branched).

and 2d) (these are Rhodophyta species and therefore red in colour, they are also much more coarsely

a Rhodophyta species which has much shorter, denser branching close to the main axis appearing

Lab 31a identified as Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus (Figure 2f) (this has a less distinct main axis and

And lab 31b identified as Chordaria flagelliformis (Figure 2g) (this is darker in colour and has far

7 Detailed breakdown of specimen identifications RT0801 Desmarestia viridis (Figure 2a) Six generic and eight specific differences recorded: Labs 10 and 21 identified as D. aculeata (Figure 2b) (this has regular opposite branching and is generally less densely branched). Lab 14 identified as Gracilaria gracilis and Lab 03c identified as Graciliaria verrucosa (Figures 2c and 2d) (these are Rhodophyta species and therefore red in colour, they are also much more coarsely branched with a thicker frond diameter and fewer short lateral branches). Fig. 2a. Desmarestia viridis (RT0801) Fig. 2b. Desmarestia aculeata Labs 03b and 03d identified as Rhodomela confervoides (Figure 2e) (this is also a Rhodophyta species which has much shorter, denser branching close to the main axis appearing bushier and coarser). Lab 31a identified as Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus (Figure 2f) (this has a less distinct main axis and lacks the multiple feathery lateral branches). And lab 31b identified as Chordaria flagelliformis (Figure 2g) (this is darker in colour and has far fewer lateral branches which also tend to be thicker in diameter). It is also worth noting that D. viridis can be highly variable when young though. Lab 12 incorrectly spelt the species name. Fig. 2c. Gracilaria gracilis Fig. 2d. Gracilaria verrucosa Fig. 2e. Rhodomela confervoides Fig. 2f. Dictyosiphon foeniculaceus Fig. 2g. Chordaria flagelliformis

RT0802 Ulva rigida (Figure 3) No generic and no specific differences recorded.

Ulva rigida (RT0802) RT0803 Cystoclonium purpureum (Figure 4) No generic and no

Cystoclonium purpureum (RT0803) RT0804 Elachista flaccida (Figure 5a)

Elachista flaccida (RT0804) Three generic and three specific difference: Lab 14

throughout as with Elachista and consistently ends in a large apical cell not

8 RT0802 Ulva rigida (Figure 3) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 3. Ulva rigida (RT0802) RT0803 Cystoclonium purpureum (Figure 4) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 4. Cystoclonium purpureum (RT0803) RT0804 Elachista flaccida (Figure 5a) Fig. 5a. Elachista flaccida (RT0804) Three generic and three specific difference: Lab 14 identified as Sphacelaria cirrosa (Figure 5b) (this species is not uniseriate throughout as with Elachista and consistently ends in a large apical cell not found in Elachista sp.). Lab 21 identified as Erythrotrichia carnea (Figure 5c) (this is a Rhodophyta species and is red in colour with a stellate chloroplast). Lab 31b identified to Family level only, Chordariacea. Fig. 5b. Sphacelaria cirrosa Fig. 5c. Erythrotrichia carnea

Eudesme virescens (RT0805) Three generic and 4 specific differences: Lab 12 only identified to Genus

Lab 14 identified as Helminthora divaricata (Figure 6b and c) (this is a Rhodophyta species, it is

Helminthora which is densely clothed in highly branched filaments often giving a slightly banded and

9 RT0805 Eudesme virescens (Figure 6a) Fig. 6a. Eudesme virescens (RT0805) Three generic and 4 specific differences: Lab 12 only identified to Genus level. Lab 14 identified as Helminthora divaricata (Figure 6b and c) (this is a Rhodophyta species, it is much more densely clothed in lateral branches with a microscopic structure consisting of highly branched filaments). Lab 21 identified as Dudresnaya verticillata (Figure 6d) (this is also a Rhodophyta species similar Helminthora which is densely clothed in highly branched filaments often giving a slightly banded and fluffy appearance). Lab 31a identified as Chordaria flagelliformis (Figure 6e) (this has coarser, long, whip like, solid fronds and less gelatinous in appearance). Fig. 6b. Helminthora divaricata. Fig. 6c. Helminthora divaricata microscopic filamentous structure Fig. 6d. Dudresnaya verticillata Fig. 6e. Chordaria flagelliformis RT0806 Mastocarpus stellatus (Figure 7) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 7. Mastocarpus stellatus (RT0806)

RT0807 Ascophyllum nodosum (Figure 8) No generic and no specific differences recorded.

Ascophyllum nodosum (RT0807) RT0808 Bryopsis plumosa (Figure 9) No generic and no

Bryopsis plumosa (RT0808) RT0809 Delesseria sanguinea (Figure 10a) Four generic and four

10b) (this species has distinct ruffled or toothed margins unlike the entire margins of

10 RT0807 Ascophyllum nodosum (Figure 8) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 8. Ascophyllum nodosum (RT0807) RT0808 Bryopsis plumosa (Figure 9) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 9. Bryopsis plumosa (RT0808) RT0809 Delesseria sanguinea (Figure 10a) Four generic and four specific differences: Labs 14, 10, 31a and 31b identified as Phycodrys rubens (Figure 10b) (this species has distinct ruffled or toothed margins unlike the entire margins of Delesseria). With both species there can be varying degrees of variation in leaf shape so it is necessary to look at the overall shape from all photos provided. Fig. 10a. Delesseria sanguinea (RT0809) Fig. 10b. Phycodrys rubens

Osmundea osmunda lacking stoloniferous base (RT0810) No generic and eight specific differences: Labs 14, 03a, 03b, 03e,

pinnatifida (Figure 11b) (this has a stoloniferous or tangled holdfast which is lacking in O. osmunda).

hydrida (Figure 11c) (this species is predominantly terete with a circular pit in the apices compared with the compressed

11 RT0810 Osmundea osmunda (Figure 11a) Fig. 11a. Osmundea osmunda lacking stoloniferous base (RT0810) No generic and eight specific differences: Labs 14, 03a, 03b, 03e, 31a, 31b and 12 identified as O. pinnatifida (Figure 11b) (this has a stoloniferous or tangled holdfast which is lacking in O. osmunda). Lab 21 identified as O. hydrida (Figure 11c) (this species is predominantly terete with a circular pit in the apices compared with the compressed or flattened form and terminal groove of O. osmunda). Fig. 11b. O. pinnatifida with stolon-like base Fig. 11c. O. hybrida with terete frond RT0811 Asperococcus fistulosus (Figure 12a) No generic and one specific difference recorded: Lab 03b identified as A. compressus (Figure 12b) (this species has a much broader and compressed frond and is rare in the British Isles and generally only found in the south west, Jersey and the Orkney Islands). Fig. 12a. Asperococcus fistulosus (RT0811) Fig. 12b. Asperococcus compressus

RT0812 Ceramium gaditanum (Figure 13) No generic and six specific differences recorded: Lab 31b

virgatum and labs 03b, 03d and 21 identified as C. nodulosum which is a synonym of C.

specific differences recorded: Labs 14 and 03e identified as B.

12 RT0812 Ceramium gaditanum (Figure 13) No generic and six specific differences recorded: Lab 31b only identified to genus level. Labs 14 and 10 identified as C. virgatum and labs 03b, 03d and 21 identified as C. nodulosum which is a synonym of C. virgatum (this species lacks the sparse multicellular spines of C. gaditanum as seen in figure 13). Fig. 13. Ceramium gaditanum (RT0812) RT0813 Laminaria hyperborea (Figure 14a) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 14a. Laminaria hyperborea (RT0813) RT0814 Boergenseniella thyoides (Figure 15a) Two generic and eleven specific differences recorded: Labs 14 and 03e identified as B. fructiculosa (Figure 15b) (which branches at an angle of >60 o compared with the narrow angle (<30 o ) B. thyoides). Labs 10, 03a, 03b, 03c, 03d, 21, 31a, 31b and 12 identified as (this is a flatter, broader plant and lacks the in-rolled or curved apices of B. thyoides). Fig. 15a. Boergeseniella thyoides (RT0814) Fig. 15a. B. fruticulosa Fig. 15c

RT0815 Dumontia contorta (Figure 16a) One generic and one specific difference recorded: Lab 31a identified as Nemalion helminthoides (Figure 16b) (this

Punctaria plantaginea (Figure 17b) (morphologically this species is incredibly similar but has not been previously recorded within the given location of

Lab 03c identified as Punctaria latifolia (This species is located sublittorally and not in mid and upper shore pools where the sample was located).

13 RT0815 Dumontia contorta (Figure 16a) One generic and one specific difference recorded: Lab 31a identified as Nemalion helminthoides (Figure 16b) (this species consists of a long gelatinous noodle like frond which is sparsely branched unlike the highly branched hollow form of Dumontia). Fig. 16a. Dumontia contorta (RT0815) Fig. 16b. Nemalion helminthoides RT0816 Petalonia fascia (Figure 17a) Seven generic and seven specific differences recorded: Labs 03a, 03b, and 03d identified as Punctaria plantaginea (Figure 17b) (morphologically this species is incredibly similar but has not been previously recorded within the given location of collection). Lab 03c identified as Punctaria latifolia (This species is located sublittorally and not in mid and upper shore pools where the sample was located). Labs 31a and 31b identified as Saccharina latissima (figure 17d) (this is a large strap like kelp species with a distinct ruffled margin). Lab 12 identified as Asperococcus compressus (this species is considered rare in the British Isles and generally only found in the south west, Jersey and the Orkney Islands and not in Northumberland where the sample was located). Fig. 17a. Petalonia fascia Fig. 17b. Saccharina latissima

RT0817 Gelidium corneum (sesquipedale) (Figure 18a) Six generic and nine specific

pulchellum (this has been accepted as a correct identification). Lab 03d identified as G.

cylindrical main axis with spiralled branching, G.

Labs 21, 31a, 31b and 12 identified as Pterocladiella (Pterocladia) capillacea (Figure 18d)

14 RT0817 Gelidium corneum (sesquipedale) (Figure 18a) Six generic and nine specific differences: Labs 03b and 03c identified as G. pulchellum (this has been accepted as a correct identification). Lab 03d identified as G. latifolium/spinosum (Figure 18b) (This species has a more pronounced flattened and broader main axis). Lab 14 identified as Chondria dasyphylla (Figure 18c) (this species consists of a cylindrical main axis with spiralled branching, G. corneum is flattened with branching in a single plane). Labs 21, 31a, 31b and 12 identified as Pterocladiella (Pterocladia) capillacea (Figure 18d) (this species is more regular and pyramidal in outline). Fig. 18a. Gelidium corneum (sesquipedale) Fig. 18b. G. latifolium Fig. 18c. Chondria dasyphylla Fig. 18d. Pterocladia capillacea RT0818 Spongonema tomentosum (Figure 19) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Fig. 19. Spongonema tomentosum (RT0818)

RT0819 Ulothrix flacca (Figure 20) One generic and eight specific differences recorded: Lab

Labs 03a, 03b, 03c, 03d and 21 identified as U.

speciosa also has a smooth wall surface unlike the rough particle embedded surface that can

implexa (Figure 20c) (this has a very thin cell wall and measures between 3.5-26um wide).

are 25-80um wide and cylindrical in shape with a dense chloroplast existing as a perforated

15 RT0819 Ulothrix flacca (Figure 20) One generic and eight specific differences recorded: Lab 31b identified to genus level only (identification is required to species for RT exercises). Labs 03a, 03b, 03c, 03d and 21 identified as U. speciosa (Figure 20b) (this species has a much wider filament width of 30-70um compared with the average width of U. flacca which is 14-32um. U. speciosa also has a smooth wall surface unlike the rough particle embedded surface that can be seen in U. flacca species). Lab 14 identified as U. implexa (Figure 20c) (this has a very thin cell wall and measures between um wide). Lab 31a identified as Urospora penicilliformis (Figure 20d) (the cells of Urospora sp. are 25-80um wide and cylindrical in shape with a dense chloroplast existing as a perforated plate). Fig. 20a. Ulothrix flacca (RT0819) Fig. 20b. Ulothrix speciosa Fig. 20c. Ulothrix speciosa Fig. 20d. Ulothrix implexa Fig. 20e. Urospora penicilliformis RT0820 Gastroclonium ovatum (Figure 21) No generic and no specific differences recorded. Lab 32a incorrectly spelt the genus. Fig. 21. Gastoclonium ovatum (RT0820)

16 The number of correct answers ranged from 25 to 38 based on 1 point awarded for correct species name and 1 point awarded for correct genus name. The maximum possible total was 40. Eight species were correctly identified by all 11 participants. The table below indicates the total scores awarded to each laboratory based on the results submitted. Table 3: Individual laboratory scores Lab Code Total Score MA2103e 38 MA2103a 34 MA2103c 33 MA MA2103d 31 MA2103b 30 MA MA MA2131b 27 MA MA2131a 25 References B.G. Santelices (1988). Synopsis of biological data on the seaweed genera Gelidium and Pterocladia (Rhodophyta). FAO Fisheries Synopsis No Guiry M.D. & Guiry G.M AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Available at: (9 September 2011). W. Freshwater and J. Rueness (1994). Phylogenetic relationships of some European Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) species, based on rbcl nucleotide sequence analysis D. Phycologia. Volume 33 (3), G. H. Boo, K. M. Kim, W. A. Nelson, R. Riosmena-Rodriguez, K. J. Yoon and S. M. Boo (2014). Taxonomy and distribution of selected species of the agarophyte genus Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta). Journal of Applied Phycology. Vol 26:

U.K. Reduced Species List (RSL) tool

U.K. Reduced Species List (RSL) tool Emma Wells (Wells Marine), Martin Wilkinson, Paul Wood (Heriot-Watt University), Clare Scanlan (SEPA), Mike Best (EA) Contact: Clare Scanlan clare.scanlan@sepa.org.uk