Chaetomorpha

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Chaetomorpha
Chaetomorpha antennina
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Ulvophyceae
Order: Cladophorales
Family: Cladophoraceae
Genus: Chaetomorpha
Kützing
Type species
Chaetomorpha melagonium
(F.Weber & D.Mohr) Kützing[1]
Species

See text

Chaetomorpha is a genus of green algae in the family Cladophoraceae.[1] Members of this genus may be referred to by the common name sea emerald.

Description

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Algae of this genus are made up of macroscopic filaments[2] which are uniseriate (one cell thick) and unbranched. Cells are cylindrical to barrel-shaped, multinucleate, with thick cell walls. The chloroplast is parietal and net-like, with many pyrenoids.[3]

The genus is characterized by its unbranched filaments, making it distinctive; its closest relatives are branching species of the genus Cladophora.[4]

Asexual reproduction occurs by biflagellate or quadriflagellate zoospores, or by the fragmentation of filaments. Sexual reproduction is isogamous, and involves biflagellate gametes.[1]

Habitat

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Chaetomorpha is probably cosmopolitan.[3] It occurs in marine or brackish waters, and very rarely in freshwater.[1] A few species of freshwater Chaetomorpha have been described, but their taxonomic placement within Chaetophora is doubtful.[5]

Species

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File:Chaetomorpha crassa - National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo - DSC07623.JPG
Chaetomorpha crassa
File:Chaetomorpha ligustica Helgoland.JPG
Chaetomorpha ligustica
File:Icones of Japanese algae (Pl. XCV) (6049927195).jpg
Chaetomorpha spiralis illustration

There are about 50 species.[4] Species include:[1]

These algae are popular with aquarium hobbyists. Dumping of aquarium specimens into waterways has led to the establishment of nonnative Chaetomorpha populations, which degrades ecosystems when the algae become invasive species. Biologists recommend boiling, microwaving, freezing, or desiccating aquarium Chaetomorpha before disposing of it to avoid inadvertent releases.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Jones, W. E. A Key to the Genera of the British Seaweeds. 1962,. Fields Studies Vol.1 no.4 pp.1 - 32
  3. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Leliaert, Frederik, et al. (2011). Atypical development of Chaetomorpha antennina in culture (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta). Phycological Research 59.2 91-97.
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Odom, R. L., et al. (2014). Alternatives to release: Efficient methods for disposal of excess or unwanted aquarium macroalgae in the genus Chaetomorpha. Invasive Plant Science and Management 7(1) 76-83.

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