Description ¹⁴

Gracilaria tikvahiae is a highly opportunistic species common in estuaries and bays, especially where nutrient loading leads to either seasonal or year-round eutrophication (Peckol and Rivers 1995a, 1995b). Its morphology is highly variable, with colors ranging from dark green to shades of red and brown; with outer branches that can be either somewhat flattened or cylindrical in shape (Littler and Littler 1989). It can be found in protected, quiescent bays, as well as in high energy coastline habitats. This species grows free or attached to rocks or other substrata, and can reach a height of 30 cm (Littler and Littler 1989). G. tikvahiae grows to depths of approximately 10 m, but is most common at depths less than 1 m.

Distribution ¹⁵

Gracilaria tikvahiae occurs from cold temperate regions along the eastern Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to warm subtropical regions around the east and west coasts of Florida and into the Caribbean. Found lagoon-wide in the Indian River Lagoon

Type information ¹⁶

Type locality: Nova Scotia

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/304879
2. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/304880
3. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277106
4. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277134
5. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277135
6. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277197
7. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277198
8. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277199
9. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277200
10. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277203
11. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277204
12. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277206
13. (c) Gary W. Saunders, University of New Brunswick, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.boldsystems.org/archive/image.php?id=bold.org/277243
14. (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526179
15. (c) Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/11526180
16. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28547437

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos

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(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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