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red
seaweeds text index
| photo index
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| Seaweeds > Division Rhodophyta |
| Encrusting
coraline algae Family Corallinaceae updated Jan 12 Where seen? Thin pink layers of this algae is commonly seen encrusting stones, coral rubble and other hard surfaces, especially on our Southern shores. Features: This algae covers hard surfaces in a thin, hard slow growing layer. It grows on things like stones, coral rubble, litter such as discarded bottles and washed up pieces of wood. It even coats the shells of living snails and shells occupied by hermit crabs. As well as seagrass leaves. The algae incorporates calcium carbonate and are thus hard and stony. Encrusting pinkish seaweeds may belong to several groups including: Mesophyllum from Family Hapalidiaceae and Hydrolithon species from Family Corallinaceae. Role in the habitat: By growing over bits and pieces, this seaweed is literally the cement of the reef, stabilising the reef structure. Thus providing shelter for reef dwellers. This role is especially important in places where the currents or wave action are too strong for hard corals to grow well. In such places, coralline algae fortify and reinforce the reefs, reducing erosion. Although they don't look very tasty, some young animals such as lobsters may eat a great deal of coralline algae. Coralline algae are also thought to induce settlement and recruitment of invertebrates. Studies suggest young abalones, some corals and soft corals prefer to settle in areas where coralline algae can be found. There are also suggestions that the presence of coralline algae suppresses the growth of other kinds of seaweeds which may otherwise smother a reef. Elsewhere, some species can grow unattached (called rhodoliths) forming extensive localised beds, made up of thousands of individuals. |
 Cyrene Reef, Mar 07  Coralline algae on the shell of a living snail Sentosa, Aug 04  The whitish stuff that grows on seagrass leaves is probably also coralline algae Labrador, Oct 04 |
Encrusting coraline algae on Singapore shores
 Labrador, Jun 05  |
 Sentosa, Jun 05  |
 Sentosa, Oct 08  |
 St. John's Island, Jan 06 |
 Pulau Hantu, Aug 03 |
 Pulau Jong, Jul 07 |
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
| Hydrolithon
species recorded for Singapore Pham, M. N., H. T. W. Tan, S. Mitrovic & H. H. T. Yeo, 2011. A Checklist of the Algae of Singapore.
Mesophyllum species recorded for Singapore Pham, M. N., H. T. W. Tan, S. Mitrovic & H. H. T. Yeo, 2011. A Checklist of the Algae of Singapore.
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Links
References
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Bookmark, Inc., the Philippines. 197 pp.|
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