Classification ³

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Delesseriaceae
Source URL: http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=W1efaf59404ede358

Description ⁴

 Membranoptera alata is a red or reddish-brown seaweed, up to 20 cm in length, with a flat, narrow frond. It exhibits a midrib and many fine, lateral veins, which can be clearly seen under a hand lens. It has many branches, arising from the central axis, which are irregular, dichotomous, and copiously branched in one plane. This perennial plant has a thin membranous thallus.Membranoptera alata can sometimes be confused with Hypoglossum woodwardii. However, Hypoglossum woodwardii lacks the distinct lateral veins found in Membranoptera alata. Membranoptera alata is fertile in the winter months.

Habitat ⁵

 Grows on rocks or on other red and brown seaweeds as an epiphyte, particularly laminarians. Inhabits shady rock pools, the sublittoral and deeper waters.

Habitat ⁶

Depth range based on 241 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 23 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 22
  Temperature range (°C): 11.471 - 12.348
  Nitrate (umol/L): 4.729 - 6.151
  Salinity (PPS): 35.008 - 35.363
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.128 - 6.346
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.335 - 0.421
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.315 - 3.727

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 22

Temperature range (°C): 11.471 - 12.348

Nitrate (umol/L): 4.729 - 6.151

Salinity (PPS): 35.008 - 35.363

Oxygen (ml/l): 6.128 - 6.346

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.335 - 0.421

Silicate (umol/l): 2.315 - 3.727
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this note. Your feedback is most welcome.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gabriele Kothe-Heinrich, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Membranoptera_alata_Helgoland.jpg
2. Pierre-Louis Crouan (1798-1871) & Hippolyte-Marie Crouan (1802-1871), no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Membranoptera_alata_Crouan.jpg
3. (c) Joseph deVeer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
4. (c)  The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10658113
5. (c)  The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/10658114
6. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/17414900

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
• NBN Atlas
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos

Range Map

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

iNat Map