An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency
Red calcareous algae create bio-aggregations ecosystems constituted by carbonate calcium, with two main morphotypes: geniculate and non-geniculate structures (rhodoliths may form bio-encrustations on hard substrata or unattached nodules). This study presents a bibliographic review of the order Coral...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1556 |
| _version_ | 1797588558999977984 |
|---|---|
| author | Dimítri de Araújo Costa Marina Dolbeth Martin Lindsey Christoffersen Pamela Tatiana Zúñiga-Upegui Márcia Venâncio Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena |
| author_facet | Dimítri de Araújo Costa Marina Dolbeth Martin Lindsey Christoffersen Pamela Tatiana Zúñiga-Upegui Márcia Venâncio Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena |
| author_sort | Dimítri de Araújo Costa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Red calcareous algae create bio-aggregations ecosystems constituted by carbonate calcium, with two main morphotypes: geniculate and non-geniculate structures (rhodoliths may form bio-encrustations on hard substrata or unattached nodules). This study presents a bibliographic review of the order Corallinales (specifically, rhodoliths), highlighting on morphology, ecology, diversity, related organisms, major anthropogenic influences on climate change and current conservation initiatives. These habitats are often widespread geographically and bathymetrically, occurring in the photic zone from the intertidal area to depths of 270 m. Due to its diverse morphology, this group offers a special biogenic environment that is favourable to epiphyte algae and a number of marine invertebrates. They also include holobiont microbiota made up of tiny eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. The morphology of red calcareous algae and outside environmental conditions are thought to be the key forces regulating faunistic communities in algae reefs. The impacts of climate change, particularly those related to acidification, might substantially jeopardise the survival of the Corallinales. Despite the significance of these ecosystems, there are a number of anthropogenic stresses on them. Since there have been few attempts to conserve them, programs aimed at their conservation and management need to closely monitor their habitats, research the communities they are linked with and assess the effects they have on the environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:53:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54ec5b9c938545e89c6e9ec2663fcc97 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:53:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-54ec5b9c938545e89c6e9ec2663fcc972023-11-18T20:10:10ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-07-01137155610.3390/life13071556An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation EmergencyDimítri de Araújo Costa0Marina Dolbeth1Martin Lindsey Christoffersen2Pamela Tatiana Zúñiga-Upegui3Márcia Venâncio4Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena5CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalCIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalDSE—Department of Systematics and Ecology, CCEN—Center of Exact and Nature Sciences, UFPB—Federal University of Paraíba—Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58050-585, Paraíba, BrazilGIZ—Grupo de Investigación en Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, UT—Universidad del Tolima, Barrio Santa Helena Parte Alta Cl 42 1-02, Ibagué 730006299, ColombiaCIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, PortugalDSE—Department of Systematics and Ecology, CCEN—Center of Exact and Nature Sciences, UFPB—Federal University of Paraíba—Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58050-585, Paraíba, BrazilRed calcareous algae create bio-aggregations ecosystems constituted by carbonate calcium, with two main morphotypes: geniculate and non-geniculate structures (rhodoliths may form bio-encrustations on hard substrata or unattached nodules). This study presents a bibliographic review of the order Corallinales (specifically, rhodoliths), highlighting on morphology, ecology, diversity, related organisms, major anthropogenic influences on climate change and current conservation initiatives. These habitats are often widespread geographically and bathymetrically, occurring in the photic zone from the intertidal area to depths of 270 m. Due to its diverse morphology, this group offers a special biogenic environment that is favourable to epiphyte algae and a number of marine invertebrates. They also include holobiont microbiota made up of tiny eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. The morphology of red calcareous algae and outside environmental conditions are thought to be the key forces regulating faunistic communities in algae reefs. The impacts of climate change, particularly those related to acidification, might substantially jeopardise the survival of the Corallinales. Despite the significance of these ecosystems, there are a number of anthropogenic stresses on them. Since there have been few attempts to conserve them, programs aimed at their conservation and management need to closely monitor their habitats, research the communities they are linked with and assess the effects they have on the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1556Corallinalesrhodolith bedsbioengineersalgae reefsclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Dimítri de Araújo Costa Marina Dolbeth Martin Lindsey Christoffersen Pamela Tatiana Zúñiga-Upegui Márcia Venâncio Reinaldo Farias Paiva de Lucena An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency Life Corallinales rhodolith beds bioengineers algae reefs climate change |
| title | An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency |
| title_full | An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency |
| title_fullStr | An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency |
| title_short | An Overview of Rhodoliths: Ecological Importance and Conservation Emergency |
| title_sort | overview of rhodoliths ecological importance and conservation emergency |
| topic | Corallinales rhodolith beds bioengineers algae reefs climate change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/7/1556 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dimitridearaujocosta anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT marinadolbeth anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT martinlindseychristoffersen anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT pamelatatianazunigaupegui anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT marciavenancio anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT reinaldofariaspaivadelucena anoverviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT dimitridearaujocosta overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT marinadolbeth overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT martinlindseychristoffersen overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT pamelatatianazunigaupegui overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT marciavenancio overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency AT reinaldofariaspaivadelucena overviewofrhodolithsecologicalimportanceandconservationemergency |