Codium tomentosum
| Codium tomentosum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Codium tomentosum at Kimmeridge, Dorset. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. tomentosum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Codium tomentosum Stackhouse, 1797 [1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
Codium tomentosum is a species of green seaweed in the family Codiaceae. Its common names include velvet horn and spongeweed.
Description
The holdfast of C. tomentosum is saucer-shaped and has closely woven strands giving it a uniform appearance. The thallus or frond has a dichotomous, much branched structure with thin branches, each with a circular cross section. It grows to 30 cm (12 in) in length and is spongy, with the texture of felt. It is covered with colourless hairs which are visible when it is submerged.[3]
Distribution and habitat
C. tomentosum is native to the north east Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles southwards to the Azores and Cape Verde. It has also been recorded around the coasts of Africa and in various other parts of the world.[4] The type locality is England.[4] It is found on exposed rocks in deep rock pools on the lower shore.[3]
Ecology
The related species C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides has been spreading to various parts of the world and a study was undertaken in 2003 in Guernsey to see whether it was displacing or even eliminating C. tomentosum from the island. It was found that, on the contrary, the native species was still thriving on the lower shore and that C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides was restricted to rock pools in the upper mid-littoral region.[5]
A similar study undertaken in 2000 on exposed shores in western Ireland showed that, as compared to thirty years earlier, C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides had decreased while C. fragile ssp. atlanticum had increased. The native C. tomentosum had maintained its population size and not been displaced.[6]
The sea slug, Elysia viridis, feeds on C. tomentosum and C fragile and has a symbiotic relationship with them. When the fluids from the algae are ingested, the chloroplasts remain intact and photosynthetically active in the digestive diverticula of the slug for some days. They continue to synthesize sugars which the slug then metabolises. The activity of the chloroplasts degenerates over time and they need to be constantly replaced by further consumption of Codium spp.[7][8]
Research
A lectin, now named tomentine, has been isolated by affinity chromatography from C. tomentosum. It shows N-acetylglucosamine-specific activity and has been found to be rich in glycine, threonine and valine.
References
- ^ a b Codium tomentosum - Stackhouse, 1797 World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ The dichotomous species of Codium in Britain Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ a b Velvet horn - Codium tomentosum Marine Life Information Network. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ a b Codium tomentosum Stackhouse AlgaeBase. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ Thriving populations of the native macroalga Codium tomentosum on Guernsey rocky shores Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ Coexistence of introduced and native congeneric algae: Codium fragile and C. tomentosum on Irish rocky intertidal shores. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ Chloroplasts as symbiotic organelles in the digestive gland of Elysia viridis (Gastropoda: opisthobranchia) Retrieved 2011-09-17.
- ^ The biology of chloroplast acquisition by Elysia viridis.