coralline algae

Here is the rocky bottom at nine meters depth at Couloir Cliffs at Granite Harbor with coralline algae covering the rocks and boulders [2]. In very shallow water, the bottom is regularly disturbed by ice, with rocks and boulders being scraped, moved, or completely overturned [1]. Coralline algae may dominate upward-facing rock in shallow water [4]. Coralline algal growth on the upper surfaces of rocks is a surrogate measure of the relative change in turnover or disturbance with surface area and depth [1].



Coralline algae is also called encrusting or crustose algae.

The taxonomic status of most Antarctic coralline species is uncertain, requiring intensive investigation [3]. A 2002 book on Antarctic seaweeds lists these species with distributions in the environs of McMurdo Sound: Clathromorphum obtectulum; Leptophytum coulmanicum; Phymatolithon foecundum; and Phymatolithon lenormandii [3]. At Terra Nova Bay, the rose-colored Clathromorphum lemoineanum, synonymized under Clathromorphum obtectulum, is particularly abundant from the shoreline down to 70 meters depth [3,5].


Sea spider walking on coralline algae.

1: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 196(1,2):251-265, 1996; 2: Kathleen Conlan, personal communication, 1999; 3: Antarctic seaweeds. C Wiencke & MN Clayton. Ruggell, Lichtenstein : A.R.G. Gantner Verlag, 2002; 4: Marine Biology 121(3):565-572, 1995; 5: Oceanografia in Antartide, Oceanografia en Antartica. VA Gallardo, O Ferretti, HI Moyano, eds. ATTI Seminario Internazionale, ACTAS Seminario Internacional. Concepcion, Chile, 7-9 March 1991. ENEA, Progetto Antartide, Italy & Centro EULA, Universidad de Concepsion, Concepcion, Chile, 1992. pp. 395-408

Text ©Peter Brueggeman. Photographs ©Norbert Wu & Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan). Photographs may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Norbert Wu & Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan). Norbert Wu no longer grants permission for uncompensated use of his photos under any circumstances whatsoever; want more info?