La familia Ceramiaceae 'sensu lato' en la costa de Bizkaia

Abstract

The family Ceramiaceae (Rhodophyta), is one of the groups of red seaweeds widely represented throughout temperate and subtropical coasts, and this work includes a detailed study of this family on the coast of Biscay, northern Spain.

In the study group we have distinguished 67 species and 1 subspecies, representing 16 tribes, and 26 genera. For all species a complete description, together with synonyms, ecology, chorology, previous records for Biscay, global distribution and an identification key are given. Furthermore, it is provided an original iconography of 432 drawings in 159 plates, which presents details of the vegetative and reproductive characters of each species.

One species, Antithamnionella multiglandulosa, was described as new to science during this study in Bizkaia. In addition, 11 species have been recorded for the first time in Biscay, 2 for the Cantabrian shore (Ceramium deslongchampsii, Spongoclonium caribaeum), 3 for the Iberian Peninsula (Antithamnion hubbsii, Ceramium polyceras, Griffithsia devoniensis), one for the European Atlantic (Gayliella mazoyerae) and one for Europe (Callithamniella flexilis). Of the studied taxa, 4 are species of recent introduction and establishment in our shores: 3 of Indo-Pacific origin (Antithamnion amphigeneum, Antithamnion hubbsii and Scageliopsis patens), and one of South Atlantic origin (Callithamniella flexilis). Moreover, for 4 taxa (Aglaothamnion sp. Antithamnionella sp. Ceramium sp. and Pleonosporium sp.) it has not been possible to clarify its status. It is also proposed to recognize the taxon Ceramium brevizonatum for material previously cited as Ceramium tenerrimum on this coast.