Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores

This occurrence dataset lists the macroalgal taxonomic records compiled under occasional collections done at São Jorge Island (central group of the Azores archipelago) and provides information on each species’ ecology and occurrence on the island’s littoral. Collections were undertaken mainly by Island Aquatic Research Group of the Azorean Biodiversity Centre of the University of the Azores (https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/sub-team/island-aquatic-ecology) at the littoral and shallow sublittoral levels.

A total of 84 specimens are registered (including taxa identified only at generic level) belonging to 49 taxa of macroalgae, comprising 34 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 6 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). From these, 21 are new records for the island, three are introduced, and five have an uncertain status. Most species were only sporadically observed on the island’s littoral, but four were commonly found, namely: the Rhodophyta Carradoriella denudata (Dillwyn) A. M. Savoie & G. W. Saunders, Ellisolandia elongata (J. Ellis & Solander) K. R. Hind & G. W. Saunders, and Gelidium spinosum (S. G. Gmelin) P. C. Silva; and the Chlorophyta Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus.

Although representing an incomplete list of the seaweeds occurring in the island of São Jorge, this occurrence dataset is a contribution to the knowledge of the marine alga flora of that island. For each taxon presented, it provides general information on its occurrence on the island’s littoral, and thus contributes to address several biodiversity shortfalls (see Hortal et al. 2015), namely the need to catalogue the Azorean macroalgae (Linnean shortfall) and improve the current information on their local and regional geographic distribution (Wallacean shortfall), as well as on species abundances and dynamics in space (Prestonian shortfall). It aims to provide information for biological studies such as systematics, diversity and conservation, biological monitoring, climate change and ecology, and for academics, students, government, private organizations, and the general public.

Identification

Alternate Identifier: 10.15468/93phf6

Alternate Identifier: http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=s_jorge_seaweed_flora

Publication Date: 2020-11-18

Title: Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores

Abstract

Dataset Language: ENGLISH

Dataset Creator: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ana Isabel Neto (Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto

Dataset Creator: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Afonso C. L. Prestes (Researcher )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/afonsoprestes

Dataset Creator: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia - Roberto Resendes (Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL

Dataset Creator: N/A - Raul M. A. Neto (Bachelor in Biology )

Rua Duque de Saldanha, 10-3Dt , Odivelas , 2675-438 , PORTUGAL

Dataset Creator: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ignacio Moreu (Researcher )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia

Metadata Provider: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ana Isabel Neto (Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto

Metadata Provider: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ignacio Moreu (Researcher )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia

Associated Party: AUTHOR
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ana Isabel Neto (Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto

Associated Party: AUTHOR
Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ignacio Moreu (Researcher )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
https://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/Ignacio_Moreu_Badia

Dataset Contact: Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Departamento de Biologia and Grupo de Investigação Aquática Insular, IBBC-GBA/cE3c - Ana Isabel Neto (Associate professor with aggregation; Macroalgae Curator at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha )

Rua da Mãe de Deus, 13-A , Ponta Delgada , São Miguel, Açores , 9500-321 , PORTUGAL
http://ce3c.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/member/anaisabelneto

Keywords (N/A )

Rhodophyta
introduced
Chlorophyta
native
Macroalgae
São Jorge Island
seaweeds
Ochrophyta
Azores
occurrence data.
uncertain

Keywords (GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type.xml )

Occurrence

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Description: São Jorge Island, Azores, Macaronesia, Portugal (approximately 38°26′10″N 28°19′47″W).

Bounding Box

West Bounding Coordinate: -28.33

East Bounding Coordinate: -27.732

North Bounding Coordinate: 38.767

South Bounding Coordinate: 38.53

Temporal Coverage

Range of Dates

Begin Date

2007

End Date

2007

Temporal Coverage

Range of Dates

Begin Date

2008

End Date

2008

Taxonomic Coverage

General Taxonomic Coverage: All macroalgae were identified to genus or species. In total, 84 taxa were identified belonging to 15 orders and 22 families, distributed by the phyla Rhodophyta (8 orders and 14 families), Chlorophyta (3 orders and 3 families), and Ochrophyta (4 orders and 5 families).

Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Rank Name: Phylum

Taxonomic Rank Value: Rhodophyta

Common Name: Red algae

Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Rank Name: Phylum

Taxonomic Rank Value: Chlorophyta

Common Name: Green algae

Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Rank Name: Phylum

Taxonomic Rank Value: Ochrophyta

Common Name: Brown algae

License Information

Intellectual Rights

This work is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License

Projects

• ProjectSeaweeds of São Jorge Island (Azores)

Title: Marine algal (seaweed) flora of São Jorge Island, Azores

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Ana Isabel

Surname: Neto

User ID: 0000-0003-0708-5636

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Albert

Surname: Cámara

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Afonso

Surname: Prestes

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Camille

Surname: Fontaine

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Francisco

Surname: Wallenstein

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: José M. N.

Surname: Azevedo

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Rita

Surname: Patarra

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Ruben

Surname: Couto

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Personnel

Individual Name

Given Name: Vanda

Surname: Brotas

Role: CONTENT_PROVIDER

Abstract: To contribute to improve the knowledge of São Jorge Island’s macroalgal flora, observations, encompassing both collections and presence data recordings, were made at the intertidal level around the island. This occurrence dataset lists the obtained taxonomic records and provides information on each taxon’s ecology and occurrence in the island’s littoral.

Funding

This study was mainly financed by the following projects/scientific expeditions:

• Campaign TAPES/2007 (July), under the project “TAPES - Estudo da viabilidade de produção da amêijoa Tapes decussatus (Linnaeus, 1758) em aquacultura intensiva” 2006 - 2009. The Azores Regional Government.

• Campaign CAMAG-SJG/2008 (August), under the project “Caracterização das massas de água de transição da Ilha de São Jorge”. 2008 - 2009. The Azores Regional Government.

• Portuguese National Funds, through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, within the projects UID/BIA/00329/2019 and UID/BIA/00329/2020-2023;

• Portuguese Regional Funds, through DRCT – Direção Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia, within several projects, since 2013

• CIRN/DB/UAc (Research Centre for Natural Resources, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Biologia)

• CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Porto, Portugal).

Study Area Description

Descriptor

São Jorge Island, located at the Central Group of the Azores archipelago (38°26′10″N, 28°19′47″W), 15 km north of Pico Island, is 54 km long and 6 km wide, with a total area of 244 km2. It is crossed longitudinally by mountains with a maximum altitude of 1053 m at Pico da Esperança, and its elongated and narrow profile makes this island unique in the archipelago (Madeira et al. 1998).

The climate, as in the remaining Azorean Islands, is temperate oceanic, with regular and abundant rainfall, high levels of relative humidity and persistent winds, mainly during winter and autumn (Morton et al. 1998). The island lacks a continental shelf, the tidal range is small (<2 m, see Instituto Hidrográfico 1981) and coasts are subjected to swell and surge most of the year.

With and extension of approximately 139 km, the island’s coastline consists mainly of irregular extensions of bedrock, with high and steep cliffs, mainly on the northern coast. This part of the island is permanently subject to strong and constant abrasion by the sea, which is responsible for shaping the typical fajãs that characterize the island's littoral. The southern coast has a much less pronounced slope. Sandy shores are absent (Madeira et al. 1998).

The rocky-shore communities of São Jorge, like those found all over the archipelago are macroalgae dominated at both intertidal and shallow subtidal levels (Neto et al. 2005). At the intertidal, a higher zone dominated by invertebrates (littorinids and chthamalid barnacles) is followed by patches or fringes of the algae Fucus spiralis Linnaeus and Gelidium microdon Kützing, and some Ulva spp. The mid-shore zone (eulittoral) is covered by algal turfs, composed by soft algae (e.g. Centroceras, Chondracanthus) and/or by articulate calcareous (e.g. Corallina and Jania). The transition to the sublittoral level is mainly dominated by calcareous crusts (first strata), covered by corticated macrophytes e.g. Corallina, Pterocladiella (Neto pers. observ.).

Design Description

Description: The algae referred to in this occurrence dataset were collected during field studies at the intertidal São Jorge Island. Collections were done at low tide by walking along the shores and manually collecting one or two specimens of all different species found in each location into previously labelled bags. Species recording data was gathered by registering all species present in the visited locations. All collected specimens were given an individual registration number and vouchers were deposited at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha, based at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of the Azores.

Methods

• Method

Method Step

Description

In the laboratory the specimens were accommodated, sorted and studied following standard procedures used in macroalgae identification.

Species identification was based on morphological and anatomical characters and reproductive structures. Various floras and keys from elsewhere were used for the species identification, namely Schmidt (1931), Taylor (1967, 1978), Levring (1974), Dixon & Irvine (1977), Lawson & John (1982), Irvine (1983), Gayral & Cosson (1986), Fletcher (1987), Afonso-Carrillo & Sansón (1989), Burrows (1991), Boudouresque et al. (1992), Cabioc'h et al. (1992), Maggs & Hommersand (1993), Irvine & Chamberlain (1994), Brodie et al. (2007), Lloréns et al. (2012) and Rodríguez-Prieto et al. (2013).

A reference collection was made for all specimens collected by giving them an herbarium code number and depositing them at the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha, University of Azores. Depending on the species and on further planned research, different types of collections were made, namely (i) liquid collections using 5% buffered formaldehyde seawater and then replacing it by Kew (Bridsen & Forman 1999); (ii) dried collections, either by pressing the algae (most species) following the method described by Gayral and Cosson (1986) or by letting them air dry (calcareous species); and (iii) silica collections.

Nomenclatural and taxonomic status used here follow Algaebase (Guiry & Guiry, 2020). The database was organized on FileMaker Pro.

Sampling

Study Extent

Sampling was performed at the island’s intertidal.

Sampling Description: Sampling encompassed both physical collections and species presence recordings. For the former, in each sampling location, collections were made at low tide by walking along the shores and manually gathering one or two specimens of all different species found into previously labelled bags. The species recording data was gathered by registering all species present in the sampled locations visited. Complementary data e.g. shore level (high, mid, low), orientation and type of substrate (bedrock, boulders, cobbles, mixed), habitat (tide pool, open rock, gully, crevice, cave) was also recorded.

qualityControl

Description: The methodology adopted in the identification of the collected macroalgae comprised morphological and anatomical observations of the whole specimen or slide preparations with the naked eye and using dissecting and compound microscopes, in order to characterize the diagnosing structures described in the literature and compare them with descriptions from other locations. In more difficult cases, specimens were sent to experts for identification.

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Identification

Geographic Coverage

Bounding Box

Temporal Coverage

Range of Dates

Temporal Coverage

Range of Dates

Taxonomic Coverage

Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Classification

Taxonomic Classification

License Information

Projects

Projects

• ProjectSeaweeds of São Jorge Island (Azores)

Personnel

Individual Name

Personnel

Individual Name

Personnel

Individual Name

Personnel

Individual Name

Personnel

Individual Name

Personnel

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Personnel

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Study Area Description

Design Description

Methods

Methods

• Method

Method Step

Sampling

qualityControl