Seaweeds of Panay A. Q. Hurtado Ma. R. J. Luhan N. G. Guanzon, Jr. Second Edition AQUACULTURE DEPARTMENT SOUTHEAST ASIAN FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT CENTER Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines Seaweeds of Panay July 2006 ISBN 978-971-8511-78-7 Published and Printed by Aquaculture Department Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines Revised Edition 2006 Aquaculture Department Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher. FOREWORD SEAFDEC/AQD has been working on making aquaculture sustainable in southeast Asia, and seaweeds are among the priority commodities for research and development. As top exports, seaweeds provide hard foreign currency and employ thousands of marginal fisher families along the coasts in the Philippines. Given the long history of seaweed culture in the country, AQD focuses on strain improvement through biotechnology. However, a few basic information still needs to be collected from time to time like these contained in this book. AQD is proud to be the first to report the 27 species that are new records to the island of Panay. Indeed, the seaweed resource of the island is very rich but little information is available on its taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and economic importance. Panay or western Visayas is also an emerging center of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma farming, and the area can be practically considered the backyard of SEAFDEC/ AQD. We have long considered it a critical resource that would help us achieve our goals. For instance, field testing of improved culture methods and new strains of seaweeds that will be developed later on by AQD and its collaborators will probably be conducted first in Panay before it can be verified and commercialized in other parts of the Philippines and the rest of the SEAFDEC member countries. A resource book such as this is an important tool to encourage cultivation in areas where seaweed culture is possible. We at SEAFDEC/AQD hope that readers would find Seaweeds of Panay a useful and delightful reference. JOEBERT D. TOLEDO, D. Agri. Chief SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department Collection sites in Marbuena Island, Ajuy, Iloilo... ...and in Ibajay-Tangalan, Aklan Preface to the Second Edition The earliest account on seaweeds was made in the 8th century B.C. by the Biblical author Jonah, as he was enmeshed in seaweeds in the belly of the great fish which swallowed him. The knowledge about seaweeds has truly gone a long way since that time. Two decades ago, Wesley Marx made this almost prophetic statement: “ Seaweed, the ocean’s unsung gift, bursting with nutrients and new resources, may soon assume a high place in a world starving for both.” That was in 1984. Today, as this book may help testify, much knowledge regarding this gift of nature has revolutionized its use and application in man’s day to day existence. Fourteen years have passed since the launching of the first edition of Seaweeds of Panay. During this interval, the authors were busy developing technologies on the production ecology of Gracilaria, and more recently Kappaphycus, – two seaweeds which are economically important in the local and international markets. Frequent travels of the authors to the different coastal places of Panay, for training and seminar workshops, as well as fieldwork and research, made them realize the need to revise the first edition in order to meet the present needs of the industry and the academe. This Second Edition of Seaweeds of Panay features a more vividly realistic presentation of the seaweeds compared to the first edition. With advances in technology, better photography of various seaweeds in living color will make your reading and study both enjoyable and educationally rewarding. We had included close-up pictures of individual distinguishing characteristics of each species to highlight and emphasize their differences. It is our ardent hope that the new edition will more than justify the long wait of fourteen years. May the information herein answer the need of policy makers, members of the academe, local government officials, seaweed farmers, fishermen and businessmen. Lastly, may the knowledge herein presented feed any nature-lover who has a passion or interest in seaweeds. July 2006 A.Q. Hurtado Ma. R. J. Luhan N. G. Guanzon, Jr. Seaweed team collectors (from right: Prime Doroteo, Dr. Nick Guanzon, Jr., Dr. Anne Hurtado, and Deo Biter Sorting, cleaning, and mounting of fresh seaweeds for the herbarium CONTENTS FOREWORD PREFACE INTRODUCTION COLLECTION SITES TAXONOMIC LIST CLASS RHODOPHYCEAE Order Nemaliales 5 Family Liagoraceae Trichogloea requienii Yamadaella caenomyce Family Galaxauraceae Actinotrichia fragilis Galaxaura fasciculata Galaxaura marginata Tricleocarpa fragilis Order Gelidiales 6 Family Gelidiellaceae Gelidiella acerosa Order Cryptonemaliales Family Halymeniaceae Carpopeltis crispata Halymenia dilatata Halymenia durvillei Order Corallinales Family Corallinaceae Amphiroa foliacea Amphiroa fragilissima Amphiroa sp. Cheilosporum cultratum Jania capillacea Jania decussato-dichotoma Mastophora rosea Order Gigartinales Family Rhizophyllidaceae Portieria hornemannii Family Schizymeniaceae Titanophora weberae Order Gracilariales Family Gracilariaceae iii v 1 4 5 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 viii Gracilaria arcuata Gracilaria canaliculata Gracilaria changii Gracilaria edulis Gracilaria eucheumatoides Gracilaria firma Gracilaria salicornia Gracilaria tenuistipitata Gracilaria textorii Gracilariopsis heteroclada Family Solieriaceae Eucheuma arnoldii Eucheuma denticulatum Kapppahycus cottonii Kappaphycus striatum Meristotheca procumbens Family Hypneaceae Hypnea musciformis Hypnea pannosa Hypnea spinella Hypnea valentiae Order Rhodymeniales Family Lomentariaceae Ceratodictyon spongiosum Family Rhodymeniaceae Coelothrix irregularis Rhodymenia intricata Order Ceramiales Family Delesseriaceae Zellera tawallina Family Rhodomelaceae Acanthophora orientalis Acanthophora spicifera Acrocystis nana Chondrophycus cartilagineus Chondrophycus papillosus Laurencia flexilis Laurencia obtusa Melanamansia glomerata Polysiphonia fragilis CLASS PHAEOPHYCEAE Order Sphacelariales Family Sphacelariaceae Sphacelaria tribuloides Order Dictyotales Family Dictyotaceae Dictyota cervicornis Dictyota ciliolata 13 16 17 17 17 17 17 18 22 22 22 22 22 Dictyota crispata Dictyota divaricata Lobophora variegata Padina australis Padina sanctae-crucis Padina minor Order Scytosiphonales Family Scytosiphonaceae Colpomenia sinuosa Hydroclathrus clathratus Hydroclathrus tenuis Order Fucales Family Cystoseiraceae Hormophysa cuneiformis Family Sargassaceae Sargassum crassifolium Sargassum cristaefolium Sargassum oligocystum Sargassum polycystum Sargassum siliquosum Turbinaria conoides Turbinaria ornata CLASS CHLOROPHYCEAE Order Ulvales Family Ulvaceae Ulva clathrata Ulva intestinalis Ulva fasciata Ulva pertusa Ulva reticulata Order Cladophorales Family Anadyomenaceae Anadyomene wrightii Family Cladophoraceae Chaetomorpha crassa Cladophora deliculata Order Siphonocladales Family Siphonocladaceae Boergesenia forbesii Boodlea composita Dictyosphaeria cavernosa Ventricaria ventricosa Order Caulerpales Family Caulerpaceae 24 24 25 25 26 29 29 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 32 ix x Caulerpa cupressoides Caulerpa lentillifera Caulerpa peltata Caulerpa peltata var. macrodisca Caulerpa racemosa Caulerpa racemosa var. laetevirens Caulerpa racemosa var. lamourouxii Caulerpa serrulata Caulerpa sertularioides Family Codiaceae Codium arabicum Codium geppiorum Family Halimedaceae Halimeda macroloba Halimeda opuntia Halimeda tuna Family Udoteaceae Avrainvillea lacerata Avrainvillea erecta Avrainvillea obscura Rhipidosiphon javensis Udotea occidentalis Udotea orientalis Udotea palmetta Order Dasycladales Family Dasycladaceae Bornetella nitida Bornetella oligospora Bornetella sphaerica Chlorocladus australasicus Neomeris annulata Family Polyphysaceae Acetabularia dentata Acetabularia major Halicoryne wrightii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GLOSSARY REFERENCES ABOUT THE AUTHORS 36 36 38 40 40 41 43 44 47 51 Introduction Western Visayas, Panay in particular, abounds in various finfish, crustacean, mollusk, and seaweed species, thus making this island rich in marine flora and fauna. To date, there are 220 identified seaweed species in Panay (Howe 1932, Kraft 1970, Aligaen 1977; Cordero 1979, 1987; Modelo and Umezaki 1987, Hurtado et al., 1992). A total of 27 species reported in this book are new records to Panay and these are marked with an asterisk before the scientific name. Seaweeds are macroscopic marine algae generally belonging to the Rhodophyceae, Phaeophyceae, and Chlorophyceae. Their habitat, distribution, morphological structure, and reproduction are discussed below. Habitat Habitat refers to the place where seaweeds are likely to thrive. It includes places with substrates that would allow them to grow and proliferate. Exposed areas with large waves and sprays permit the development of sturdy and frondose seaweeds like Sargassum, Turbinaria and Halymenia while sheltered bays or lagoons favor the growth of free-floating seaweeds like some Gracilaria and Ulva. Seaweeds attach to two types of substrates, stable or unstable. Stable substrates A typical stable substrate is exemplified by a rocky reef or headland such as those found in Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique, where seaweeds abound. Beaches with large boulders or rocks (rocks are the most stable substrate) as seen in Boracay Island, Aklan, have moderately extensive seaweed communities. Rocks, concrete breakwaters, concrete ramps, pilings, and seawalls also support substantial growth of seaweeds. In addition, wooden pilings and similar structures as well as surfaces of marine plants likeThalassia and floating net cages are good stable substrates for Ulva, Gracilaria, Acanthophora, Hypnea, Padina, and Dictyota. Unstable substrates Examples are cobbles, shingle beaches, fine sand, mud, and clay. Waves or currents wash away attached seaweeds resulting in decreased population. In quiet or still waters, however, such substrates support moderate to large populations of Gracilaria, Caulerpa, and Udotea. Distribution It is important to classify distribution patterns of seaweed to determine the factors that influence its distribution. Intertidal distribution. A rocky shore rather than a sandy or muddy beach is a better indicator of seaweed growth. Arrangement or zonation of flora refers to position type, and the number of seaweeds occupying an area. In the Pacific coast, the time or duration of exposure to air or immersion is an important factor that controls zonation. Most of the green seaweeds (Acetabularia, Boergesenia, Caulerpa, Chaetomorpha, Dictyosphaeria, Halimeda, Udotea, and Ulva) are found in this area. Subtidal distribution. Seaweeds in this area are never exposed to air at any given time. Amount and intensity of light are the two most important factors controlling vertical distribution. Both factors vary with increasing depth and appear to have a significant effect at which different seaweeds thrive. Varying sizes of red seaweeds like Portieria, Halymenia, and Titanophora can actively photosynthesize in dim and “greener” light in contrast to green or brown (Sargassum) which are typically found in shallower portions of the subtidal zone. In deeper portions, coralline algae like Amphiroa, Cheilosporum, and Jania may appear as pink crusts on surfaces of rocks. Geographic distribution. Many authors consider temperature as the most important factor that determines geographical distribution of seaweeds. Species composition differs when there is a significant difference in seawater temperature between locations. Hutchins (1947) pointed out four critical temperatures: (1) minimum for survival that sets winter poleward boundary of species; (2) minimum for reproduction that controls summer poleward boundary; (3) maximum for reproduction which controls winter equatorward boundary; and (4) maximum for survival which determines summer equatorward boundary. 2 Seaweeds of Panay Seasonal distribution. The Philippines has generally two pronounced seasons: wet (June-October) and dry (November-May). Several genera like Gracilaria, Codium, and Hydroclathrus are seasonal, which grows well during the dry season. Growth is also affected by monsoon, water movement, salinity, and temperature. Morphological Structure Holdfast This structure anchors the seaweed to the substrate. Holdfasts are of different forms, shapes, and sizes. Examples: hapters - multicellular outgrowths forming part of the holdfast (Gracilaria eucheumatoides); discshaped - resembling a suction cup (Gracilaria manilensis); root-like filaments - deeply penetrate and surround/ attach to sediment particles to form an anchor within the loose substrate (Avrainvillea, Halimeda). Stipe This is the stalk that supports and orients the blades; provides flexibility and resilience in meeting varying forces of water movement. Thallus This may consist of a single filament, a branched filament, a hollow tube or bladder, a bushy bunch of cylindrical or flattened branches, or a single or compressed blade (lamina); serves as the photosynthetic organ and supporting structure for the reproductive organs. Vesicle This hollow gas-filled chamber structure is commonly present in Sargassum. The vesicle keeps the blade buoyant and orients plant for sufficient light absorption required for photosynthesis. Reproduction Asexual reproduction This is the kind of reproduction wherein specialized unicellular spores are formed in the thallus. Spores are produced in structures called sporangia and may either be motile or non-motile. These spores may be in the form of exospores, endospores, monospores (Bangiales), bispores (Corallinales), paraspores (Ceramium), zoospores or aplanospores (Chlorophyceae and Phaeophyceae) and tetraspores and carpospores (Rhodophyceae). Seaweed can also reproduce vegetatively. Portions of the thallus may regenerate from cut surfaces. This is common in all algae and practiced in commercial cultivation of Eucheuma, Gracilaria, Gracilariopsis and Kappaphycus. Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis maintain populations in estuaries, rivers, creeks, canals, and fishponds through vegetative reproduction. Thalli of chlorophytans may be fragmented into two or more portions or die-off through accidental or natural cause. In some, erect branches grow and from its basal holdfast form specialized structures called propagules. These propagules would drop-off and grow to new individuals as in Sphacelariales. Sexual reproduction This kind of reproduction involves production and fusion of gametes produced in the gametangia which may be differentiated or undifferentiated from the ordinary vegetative cell. The female gamete is produced in an oogonium (Phaeophyceae) or carpogonium (Rhodophyceae) while the male gamete is produced in the antheridium (Phaeophyceae) or spermatangium (Rhodophyceae). Some red and brown seaweeds may form distinct reproductive structures, e.g., sori which form a fertile area on the thallus’ surface (Padina), nemathecium which forms a cushionlike structure on the thallus’ surface, conceptacles found inside cavities or receptacles (Amphiroa, Cheilosporum, and Mastophora), stichidium (converted fertile structure from the branch) (Gelidiella and Hypnea), or cystocarp of the female gametophyte in which carpospores are produced (Kappaphycus and Gracilaria). Sexual reproduction may be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. Seaweeds of Panay 3 Classification Red Algae (Rhodophyceae) Principal pigments are chlorophyll a, chlorophyll d, r- and c -phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, r-phycoerythrin, and carotene. These pigments are responsible for the overall red, violet, brown, black, or blue color of the algae. Storage product is floridean starch which is deposited in the cytoplasm. The cell wall includes cellulose, xylans and galactans in certain species, or the commercially important agar and carrageenan. Sexual reproduction is oogamy and involves many specialized features. In situ post-fertilization development usually occurs, resulting in the production of a unique diploid carposporophyte (2N) generation attached to the female gametophyte (1N). Sexes are normally separate and life history usually involves a sequence of haploid gametophyte and diploid carposporophyte and tetrasporophyte generations. Both the gametophyte and tetrasporophyte generations are usually isomorphic, though many heteromorphic examples are known. Brown Algae (Phaeophyceae) Species belonging to this class are almost exclusively benthic. Its brown color is due mainly to the principal carotenoid fucoxanthin which combines with various tannins, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll c1 – c2. Storage products are laminaran and mannitol. Cell wall is two-layered with an inner layer of cellulose and outer layer of alginic acid and fucoidin. Asexual reproduction is principally by means of motile zoospores although a variety of vegetative structures are involved in some species. Sexual reproduction can be isogamy, anisogamy, or oogamy. Green Algae (Chlorophyceae) Presence of chlorophylls a and b makes the members of this class similar to terrestrial plants. Starch (amylose and amylopectin) is the principal food reserve. Cell wall is made of cellulose, except in siphonous members which have mannan or xylan. Calcium carbonate is also deposited in some members (Halimeda, Udotea) which later on forms part of the reef building process. Reproduction is either asexual (fragmentation; formation of zoospores, aplanospores or autospores) or sexual (isogamy, anisogamy, or oogamy). Gametes with equal or unequal flagella, typically two in number and inserted apically are distinctive of this class. Collection and Preservation Specimens were collected during low tide from tidal flats in 2-3 m waters. In deeper areas, these were done by skin or SCUBA diving. Whole thalli were collected by hand or with the aid of a knife. Epiphytic and crustose materials were either scraped or collected with the substrate or host plant. Specimens were collected from different coastal towns of Panay (Figure 1). Collected specimens were placed in a labeled bag, locally called a net bag. On shore, the contents of the bags were sorted, washed, cleaned with sea and freshwater to remove adhering debris. Photographs were taken in broad daylight after which the seaweeds were pressed according to the procedures described by Ganzon-Fortes (1987). Pressed samples were sorted by sites and species. Identification was made by inspecting external appearances under a stereo microscope. To ascertain and confirm the identity of each species, cross sections were made and inspected under a compound microscope. Whole plant photographs were also prepared to help in identification. The taxonomic scheme of Silva et al. (1987) was followed. 4 Seaweeds of Panay Collection Sites Taxonomic List Seaweeds of Panay 5 CLASS RHODOPHYCEAE Order Nemaliales Family Liagoraceae Trichogloea requienii (Montagne) Kützing Description: Plant is 105 mm tall, dull red, gelatinous, soft, lightly calcified, and attached to a hard substrate by a small discoid holdfast. Short stem (3 mm long) gives rise to several branches; simple, filiform, cylindrical branchlets end bluntly. Habitat: Rocky substrates or tide pools in intertidal zone Collection site: Pandan, Antique Yamadaella caenomyce (Decaisne) Abbott Description: Plant is 70 mm tall, clumpy, and slimy but moderately calcified when dried. Medullary filaments are cylindrical and colorless. Basal cells of assimilatory filaments are subcylindrical and pigmented while distal cells are subglobular to ovate. Uppermost assimilatory cells bear cylindrical filaments. Habitat: Rocky to coral substrates in intertidal zones Collection site: Pandan, Antique Family Galaxauraceae Actinotrichia fragilis (Forsskal) Børgesen Description: Plant is 30 mm tall and red to orange. Branching is regular and repeatedly dichotomous. Branches are cylindrical with terminal branched-segments ending truncately or bluntly. Branches bear whorled assimilatory filaments. Habitat: Rocky-sandy substratum exposed to moderate water movement Collection site: Pandan, Antique; Ajuy, Concepcion and Carles, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan 6 Seaweeds of Panay Galaxaura fasciculata Kjellman Description: Plant is 115 mm tall and attached to substrate by a discoid holdfast. Branching is dichotomous. Branches possess numerous soft and long hairs or extended assimilatory filaments. Habitat: Rocky substrate on tide pools Collection site: Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique; Ajuy, Iloilo; Olotayan Island, Capiz *Galaxaura marginata (Ellis & Solander) Lamouroux Description: Thalli form pinkish clumps of up to about 85 mm tall. Branching regularly, repeatedly dichotomous forming wide angles of about 90 degrees. The branches are lightly calcified, slightly in-rolled at the lateral margins. Terminal branches are bifurcate with emarginated to obtuse apices. Habitat: shallow intertidal areas or sandy-rocky substrates Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique Tricleocarpa fragilis (Linnaeus) Huisman and Townsend Description: Plant is 100 mm tall pinkish, and arises from a short stipe. Branching is regularly dichotomous giving rise to a corymbose shape. Branches are cylindrical and slightly rugose. Inter-dichotomal segments are cylindrical and slightly constricted at both ends. Habitat: Rocky substrate in tide pools, crevices, and reef margins exposed to strong waves Collection site: Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique Order Gelidiales Family Gelidiellaceae Gelidiella acerosa (Forsskål) Feldmann & Hamel Common name: Gulaman bato (Hiligaynon); Kulot (Iloku); Gulaman-dagat (Tagalog) Description: Plant is brownish to greenish. Creeping stolons form mats on hard substrates. Usually associated with other algae like Gracilaria coronopifolia, Mastophora rosea, Sargassum, and Laurencia. Branches are pinnately arranged, erect, and decumbent with terete to compressed central axis. Branchlets are upcurved and generally decreasing in length towards apex. Habitat: Rocky substrates exposed to moderate to strong waves Economic importance: Human food; agar source. Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan; Ajuy, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Nogas Island, Antique Order Cryptonemiales Family Halymeniaceae Carpopeltis crispata Okamura Common name: Lap-layag (Iloku) Description: Plant is small (15 mm tall) and attached to rocky substratum by a small hapter. Fronds are flabellate. Branches are flat, semi-cartilaginous, and dichotomous which end in blunt apices. Habitat: Rocky substrate Economic importance: Human food. Collection site: Boracay Island, Aklan Halymenia dilatata Zanardini Description: Plant is 130 mm, yellowish to purplish, gelatino-membranaceous, arises from a very short stipe, and attached to substrate by a discoid holdfast. Blade is suborbicular to broadly oblong, undulato-curled, and with simple or lobed margin. Habitat: Subtidal areas exposed to moderate to strong waves. Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan Seaweeds of Panay 7 Halymenia durvillei Bory de Saint-Vincent Common name: Gayong-gayong (Iloku) Description: Plant is purplish, soft-cartilaginous, slimy when fresh, shortly stipitate, and attached to substrate by a discoid holdfast. Branches are flattened, compressed, and alternately-pinnately arranged with simple or branched proliferous outgrowths on surface of frond. Habitat: Deeper subtidal area Economic importance: Human food. Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan 8 Seaweeds of Panay Order Corallinales Family Corallinaceae Amphiroa foliacea Lamouroux Description: Plant is 45 mm, pinkish, and highly calcified. Branching is dichotomous. Branches consist of slightly compressed and cuneate segments. Genicula are found above dichotomies. Presence of conspicuous elevated conceptacles characterizes this species. Plants are associated with Actinotrichia fragilis, Gelidiella acerosa, Mastophora rosea, Tricleocarpa fragilis, and other Amphiroa species. Habitat: Rocky substratum or dead corals in sub-tidal areas Collection site: Boracay Island and Tangalan, Aklan; Ajuy and Estancia, Iloilo Amphiroa fragilissima (Linnaeus) Lamouroux Description: Plant is 80 mm tall, cream to purplish, and consists of heavily calcified branches. Branching is dichotomous to trichotomous with cylindrical segments (0.4 mm dia.). Intergenicula are found at dichotomies. Laterally disposed dome-shaped conceptacles with an ostiole are present. This species is the most widely distributed among Amphiroa. Habitat: Shallow protected tide pools Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique Amphiroa sp. Description: Thalli form decumbent clump, highly calcified, pinkish to cream in color up to 50 mm long, the branch segments measuring 5-9 mm long and 1.0-3.5 mm across with distinct central midrib flanked on both sides by flattened extensions. Basal segment with undulate lateral margins. Habitat: Tidepools or in slightly protected areas, or sandy-corally to rocky substrates. Economic importance: Source of simple sugars, pigments and antibacterial property. Collection site: Nogas Is., Antique Cheilosporum cultratum (Harvey) J. E. Areschoug Description: Plant forms decumbent branches di-trichotomously. Branches are heavily calcified and compressed to flattened with a prominent midrib. A striking characteristic of this species is the pointed lateral wings of segments which, when fertile, bear 1-2 slightly elevated and obovoid to ovoid conceptacles on upper-distal portion. Habitat: Rocky subtidal areas exposed to strong waves Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan Jania capillacea Harvey Description: Thalli small (5-7 mm) densely tufted, epiphytic to Sargassum, Hormophysa, and Turbinaria; branches dichotomous, subcorymbose lax in the middle, becoming shorter and denser toward the distal portion. Habitat: Subtidal areas exposed to moderate to strong water movement. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Olotayan Island Capiz Seaweeds of Panay 9 Jania decussato-dichotoma (Yendo) Yendo Description: Plant is small (15 mm tall) pinkish to whitish, and usually epiphytic on larger algae like Sargassum, Galaxaura and Laurencia. Branching is irregularly divaricate-dichotomous-decussate. Branches are cylindrical to compressed. Terminal segments are short, bifurcate, and tapering. Habitat: Epiphytic on larger algae Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Ivisan, Capiz; Nogas Island, Antique Mastophora rosea (C. Agardh) Setchell Description: Plant is purplish, creeping or prostrate, and attached to substrate by rhizoids. Branching is irregularly dichotomous. Branches are thin, flattened, and slightly calcified under the surface. Distal branches have rounded apices with semi-circular or in-rolled margins. If fertile, dome-shaped conceptacles with an ostiole are present. Habitat: Rocky substratum; associated with other algae like Gracilaria edulis, G. eucheumatoides, Amphiroa, and Sargassum in habitats exposed to strong waves Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique; Olotayan Island, Capiz Order Gigartinales Family Rhizophyllidaceae Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) P. C. Silva Description: Plant is 100 mm tall, erect, and bright orange to red. Overlapping flattened branches arise from a small discoid holdfast. Branching is irregularly pinnate-alternate. Plant is slightly slimy when fresh. In-rolled tips of ultimate branches are distinctive of this species. Habitat: Rocky substrates, crevices and dead corals in subtidal areas exposed to strong waves Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique; Ivisan, Capiz; Tangalan, Aklan 10 Seaweeds of Panay Family Schizymeniaceae Titanophora weberae Børgesen Description: Plant is up to 170 mm tall, dull red to pink, slightly calcified, and mucilaginous when fresh. Broad lobed flabellate frond with dentate margin arising from a small disc-shaped holdfast characterizes this species. In-rolled tips of ultimate branches are distinctive of this species. Habitat: Rocky substrate in subtidal areas exposed to strong waves Collection site: Boracay Island, Aklan; Pandan, Antique Order Gracilariales Family Gracilariaceae Gracilaria arcuata Zanardini Common name: Gulaman (Hiligaynon), Kaokaoayan (Iloku) Description: Plant is small, 35 mm tall, and reddish to purplish. Branching is irregularly pinnate. Fronds are cylindrical and fleshy. Main branches are arcuated with terminal branches in blunt apices. Habitat: Sandy-coral substrates exposed to moderate water movement Economic importance: Human food; source of agar; animal feed; used in water purification; contains growth regulator hormones like auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin. Collection site: Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique *Gracilaria canaliculata Sonder Common name: Guso, canot canot Description: Thalli erect loosely branched; branching irregularly, alternate to secund forming acute angle, terete attenuated to acute or spinose tips. Habitat: Subtidal portion of reef areas or sandy-corally to rocky substrates where water movement is slow to moderate. Economic importance: Source of minerals, phytohormones, pigments and polysaccharides. Used as animal feed, pollution control, human food and medicines. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Pandan, Antique *Gracilaria crassa Harvey ex J. Agardh Common Name: Gulaman (Hiligaynon), agaragar, guraman Description: Thalli deep purple, often turning to blackish on drying, cylindrical, thick and solid fleshy in substance. Habitat: Grows in semi-exposed areas on rocky-corally substrates Economic importance: Human food; source of agar. Collection site: Carles and Concepcion, Iloilo *Gracilaria changii (Xia and Abbott) Abbott, Chang and Xia Common name: Gulaman (Hiligaynon) Description: Terete and tapering branches strongly constricted at the base distinguish this species from other Gracilaria. Branching is loose in an irregularly secund to alternate manner. Habitat: Associated with green algae (Acetabularia, Halicoryne, Cymopolia, Ulva, and Cladophora) on sandy-rocky substratum in habitats exposed to moderate water movement. Economic importance: Human food; agar source; medicine for stomach disorders and acts as laxative. Collection site: Guimbal, San Dionisio, and Estancia, Iloilo Seaweeds of Panay 11 Gracilaria edulis (Gmelin) P.C. Silva Common name: Kao-kaoayan (Iloku) Description: Plant is erect, cartilaginous, and greenish brown to dark red or purplish. Divaricate and dichotomous terete branches terminating in bifurcate apices are distinctive of this species. Habitat: Intertidal zone associated with Sargassum, Padina, and Acanthophora in habitats exposed to strong waves Economic importance: Human food; source of agar; source of fat, protein, vitamin C, and minerals such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, and Zn. Collection site: Concepcion, San Dionisio, and Estancia, Iloilo 12 Seaweeds of Panay Gracilaria eucheumatoides Harvey Common name: Kanot-kanot (Iloku) Description: Plant is greenish to purplish, prostrate, and attached to hard substrate by hapters. Branching is irregular with cartilaginous, flattened, and fused branches at certain points. Coarse sharp teeth along margin of branch are distinctive of this species. Habitat: Associated with Sargassum in habitats exposed to moderate or strong waves Economic importance: Human food; agar source. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique *Gracilaria firma Zhang et Xia Common name: Gulaman, guraman, lagot, cao-caoyan Description: Plants yellowish brown to green in color, erect, branches terete, distinctly constricted at the base with tapered or somewhat blunt tips; branching irregular alternate, main axes more robust than branches. Habitat: Grows on shells, gravel and rock fragments in sandy-muddy substrates. Economic importance: Source of natural products such as fatty acids, pigments, polysaccharides and protein. Used as fertilizer, animal feed, human food and medicine. Collection site: New Washington and Boracay Island, Aklan Gracilaria salicornia (C. Agardh) Dawson Common name: Susueldot-baybay (Iloku) Description: Plant is 100-150 mm tall and bright orange in shallower areas to green in deeper areas. Branching is dichotomous to trichotomous in a divaricate manner. Branches are distinctly divided by constrictions (terete and sub-clavate to clavate segments swollen at distal ends). Habitat: Sandy-coral substrate in association with seagrasses; rocky substrate with other strongly attached algae Economic importance: Human food; source of agar. Collection site: Concepcion, Carles and Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan and Nogas Island, Antique *Gracilaria tenuistipitata Zhang et Xia Common Name: Gulaman (Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Akeanon), guraman, cao-caoyan, gargarao (Iloku). Description: Thalli 40 up to 170 mm long; yellowish brown to black in color; branches slender somewhat tough and firm, branching irregular, mostly from percurrent axes; branches not constricted at the base, ending with acute tips occasionally bifurcating. Habitat: Intertidal pools attached to stones by a discoid holdfast forming thick tuffs Economic importance: Source of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, simple sugars, pigments, polysaccharides and protein. Used as fertilizer, animal feed, human food and medicine. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique Seaweeds of Panay 13 *Gracilaria textorii (Suringar) De Toni Description: Plants greenish purple to light red or orange flabellate blade up to 80 mm tall, blade branching in one plane; thick, coriaceous with rounded to attenuate branch tips; blade margin usually with entire margin or may bear simple or branched proliferous growths. Habitat: Grows on rocky lower intertidal to shallow-subtidal areas exposed to strong wave action. Economic importance: Source of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, pigments, simple sugar, protein and vitamins. Collection site: Pandan, Antique Gracilariopsis heteroclada Zhang and Xia Common name: Gulaman (Hiligaynon, Cebuano, Aklanon) Description: Plant is 300-400 mm tall, purple red to dark green, (sometimes yellowish during dry season), erect, and solitary or caespitose. Branching is irregularly alternate with the 2nd order long and the 3rd order short. Branches are sometimes spinose, unconstricted at the base, tapering gradually towards apex, and are brittle, succulent, and cylindrical. Main axis consists of 2-4 orders of branches. Branch and branchlets are distinguishable. Ovoid to oblong tetrasporangia are scattered on the surface. Cystocarps are prominently protruding, unconstricted at the base, and nonrostrate to slightly rostrate. Cortical layers consist of 2-3 layers of pigmented and roundish to cuboidal cells. Medullary layer consists of several layers of large parenchymatous cells. Family Solieriaceae Habitat: Protected bays, estuaries, rivers, and creeks with sandy-muddy substrate; sometimes brackishwater ponds Economic importance: Human and fish food; agar source. Collection site: Jaro, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan and Pan-ay, Capiz; Batan and New Washington, Aklan Eucheuma arnoldii Weber-van Bosse Description: Plant is small (up to 100 mm tall) and appears like the hard coral Acropora. Plant has irregularly dichotomous branching. Branches are clavate with slightly acute apices covered with simple or compound spinose tubercles in distinct nodes and internodes. Habitat: Hard and soft corals in subtidal zone Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan source. Collection site: Boracay Island, Aklan Eucheuma denticulatum (N. L. Burman) Collins & Hervey Common name: Guso (Cebuano), agal-agal (Tausug) Description: Plant is up to 200-250 mm tall, cartilaginous, and succulent. Branches are cylindrical, provided with whorled spinose determinate branchlets, and forms distinct nodes and internodes especially at the terminal portion of branch. Habitat: Coral to rocky substrates (2-3 m deep during lowest tide) Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan source. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo 14 Seaweeds of Panay Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz) Doty Common name: Guso (Cebuano), agal-agal (Tausug) Description: Plant light brown, red to green in color, erect, cylindrical with irregular branching, sharp to blunt tips, others form large crust-like clumps formed by fusion of prostrate branches, strongly attached to solid substrates by hapters arising from undersurface of the thallus. It has rough warty surfaces because of numerous short, blunt and stubby spines. Habitat: Grows on rocky or solid corally substrates near the reef edge exposed to very strong wave action. Economic importance: Source of natural products such as fatty acids, fiber, minerals, protein and vitamins. Used as animal feed, heavy metals pollution control and fertilizer. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; New Washington and Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique Erect type K. striatum Prostrate type Seaweeds of Panay 15 *Meristotheca procumbens Gabrielson and Kraft Description: Thalli purple red, membranous, thin and lubricous in younger specimens, later becoming thick and fleshy, 100-200 mm high and 100-150 mm wide, divided into many broad segments in an irregularly dichotomous manner with round axis, becoming gradually narrower above and tapering below cuneately. Habitat: Grows on lower intertidal rocks. Economic importance: Human food. Collection site: Pandan, Antique 16 Seaweeds of Panay Family Hypneaceae Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) Lamouroux Common name: Kulot (Iloku) Description: Plant is short, 40 mm tall greenish to purplish, and loosely caespitose. Branches are irregular-alternate and bear fine slender spinose ultimate branchlets. Habitat: Sandy substratum in close association with green algae and seagrasses Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan and protein source; animal feed; fertilizer; medicine (antitumor). Collection site: Ajuy, Iloilo; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan; Pandan and Nogas Island, Antique Hypnea pannosa J. Agardh Description: Plant is purplish, caespitose, creeping, and forms mats on rocky substrates especially between crevices of hard corals. Branching is irregularly alternate ending in many short and stubby spines. Branches are terete to slightly compressed and fused at certain points to form loose but firm clumps. Plant appears luminous underwater during bright sunny days. Habitat: Between crevices of hard corals in subtidal zone exposed to moderate waves Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan source; fertilizer; animal feed; medicine (antitumor). Collection site: Ajuy, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique *Hypnea spinella (C. Agardh) Kützing Common name: Kulot ti pusa (Iloku) Description: Plant is 100-120 mm tall, greenish with a tinge of red, and attached to pebbles, shells, or small stones by discoid holdfast. Branching is irregularly dichotomous and divaricate. Branches are terete and dense. Typical thallus shows main axis producing numerous short cervicorn branchlet. Habitat: Sandy-coral substrate in tide pools Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan source; medicine (antitumor); source of protein and minerals such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, and Fe. Collection site: Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan Hypnea valentiae (Turner) Montagne Common name: Kulot (Iloku) Description: Plant is erect, tall (up to 145 mm), and greenish to brownish. Branching is irregular; main branches are percurrent with numerous long and tapering determinate branchlets. Stichidia are borne either near the base or tip of branchlets. Habitat: Sandy-coralline substrate Economic importance: Human food; carrageenan source. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan Order Rhodymeniales Family Lomentariaceae Ceratodictyon spongiosum Zanardini Description: Spongy-like plant is dark green to dark red, hard, and tough. Branching is very irregular and anastomizes at some point. When examined under the microscope (low magnification), spongelike thallus consists of finely branched “gracilarioid” which are closely intertwined and fused at certain portions. Presence of spicules indicates that algae is a symbiont of sponge. Habitat: Dead corals Collection site: Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan, Anique Family Rhodymeniaceae Coelothrix irregularus (C. Agardh) Vickers Description: Plant is 37 mm tall, consists of slender filaments, and forms turfs on rocky substratum by rhizoids. Branching is very sparse, forming near the tips. Filaments are terete, tapering apically. Habitat: Well-protected reefs Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan Seaweeds of Panay 17 Order Ceramiales Family Delesseriaceae Rhodymenia intricata (Okamura) Okamura Description: Plant is 75 mm tall, reddish, flat, thin, membranaceous, and subdichotomously branched with roundish or bifid apices are fine slender spinose ultimate branchlets. Habitat: Rocky substrate in subtidal zone exposed to moderate waves Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan Zellera tawallina Martens Description: Plant is almost 50 mm tall, tufted, very soft and membranaceous, purplish, and anchored to substrate by discoid holdfast. Branches are recurved and unilaterally arranged on one side of the main axes. Habitat: Rocky substrate in intertidal and subtidal areas. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan 18 Seaweeds of Panay Family Rhodomelaceae Acanthophora orientalis J. Agardh Common name: Culot; Lagot-baye Description: Plants are erect, laxly branched, greenish brown to purple in color, with small discoid holdfast; branches terete throughout, slightly attenuated towards the acute tips; spinous projections, spirally arranged determinate branchlets. Habitat: Grow in sandy rocky areas or on bed rocks at the lower intertidal zone. They can be also found in tidepols. Economic importance: Source of minerals, pigments, simple sugars, protein and vitamin C. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Roxas City, Capiz Acanthophora spicifera (Vahl) Børgesen Common name: Kulot (Iloku) Description: Plant grows up to 150 mm tall and is erect, greenish to brownish, and anchored by a small discoid holdfast. Branches are terete with spinose projections on spirally arranged determinate branchlets. Habitat: Dead corals or rocky substrates in habitats exposed to moderate waves. Economic importance: Human food; source of agar; source of antibiotic and growth hormones. Collection site: Ajuy, Carles and Concepcion, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Pandan, Antique; Olotayan Island, Capiz Acrocystis nana Zanardini Description: Plant forms colonies, are obovate (5.29 x 2. 56 mm), and stipitate arising from stolon attached by branched hapters. Habitat: Rocky substrate (shaded portions) in spray zone Collection site: Boracay Island, Aklan Seaweeds of Panay 19 Chondrophycus cartilagineus (Yamada) Garbary and Harper Description: Plant is erect, 120 mm tall, reddish to purple, cartilaginous, and attached by discoid holdfast. Branching is alternate with terete branches and ultimate paniculate branches. Habitat: Rocky substrate exposed to moderate waves Economic importance: Human food; agar source; antifungal property. Collection site: Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan Chondrophycus papillosus (C. Agardh) Garbary and Harper Common name: Kulot (Iloku) Description: Plant is 50 mm tall, clumpy, erect, greenish to brown, and arise from a discoid holdfast. Branching is irregular. Main branches are terete, percurrent, and densely covered with short, simple, and cylindrical ultimate branchlets. Habitat: Sandy substratum in close association with green algae and seagrasses; intertidal zone on rocky substrate together with other species of ultimate branchlets Economic importance: Human food; agar source; fish bait; antibacterial property. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Pandan and Nogas Island, Antique 20 Seaweeds of Panay Laurencia flexilis Setchell Description: Plant is cartilaginous, erect, purplish, and attached to rocky substrate by discoid holdfast. Plant is naked at the base but proliferously branched at the upper half. Pinnate-oppositely arranged branches appear pyramidal in shape. Branches are terete to slightly compressed at terminal portions with cylindrical ultimate branchlets having distinct apical pits. Habitat: Rocky substrate exposed to strong waves Economic importance: Human food; agar source; antifungal and antibacterial properties. Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan, Antique Laurencia obtusa (Hudson) Lamouroux Description: Plant is erect, 45 mm tall, soft and fleshy in texture, and deep purple or reddish green with rose pink tips. Branching is irregularly alternate to subverticillate. Ultimate branches are simple, distinctly clavate, constricted at the base, and with apical pit. Habitat: Rocky substrates in intertidal area exposed to strong waves Economic importance: Human food; agar source; antifungal and antibacterial property. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique Seaweeds of Panay 21 Melanamansia glomerata (C. Agardh) R.E. Norris Description: Plant is small (up to 15 mm), greenish to reddish, and attached to solid substrate by hapters thus forming clusters. Branches are flat and linear-lanceolate. Distal portion of branches is finely serrated. Habitat: Rocky substrates exposed to strong waves Collection site: Pandan, Antique; Boracay Island, Aklan Polysiphonia fragilis Suringar Description: Plant is small (5 mm tall), soft, reddish brown, and forms tufts on larger algae by rhizoidal holdfast. Habitat: Shallow waters on hard rocky substrates Collection site: Tigbauan, Iloilo 22 Seaweeds of Panay CLASS PHAEOPHYCEAE Order Sphacelariales Family Sphacelariaceae Sphacelaria tribuloides Meneghini Description: Plant is epiphytic on large species like Sargassum. Filaments are pluriseriate and irregularly branched or sometimes unbranched. Terminal hairs are present. Habitat: Large plants in upper intertidal to subtidal zones Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan Order Dictyotales Family Dictyotaceae Dictyota cervicornis Kützing Description: Thalli erect, bushy up to 80 mm tall, branching subdichotomous to asymmetrical, branches strapshaped, spirally twisted throughout; branches cervicorn with acute tips but sometimes rounded, basal portions of branches slightly wider, groups of colorless hairs scattered over surface. Habitat: Associated with other algae on reef areas exposed to moderate water movement Economic importance: Use as animal feed, human food and medicine (antibacterial). Source of natural products such as minerals (iodine), pigments, simple sugars and sugar alcohol. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique; Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo. Dictyota ciliolata Sonder ex Kützing Description: Plant is 100 mm tall, erect, bushy, and light to dark brown. Branching is regularly dichotomous. Branches are flat 4-15 mm wide with rounded and entire tips. Habitat: Attached to rocky substrates in shallow areas exposed to moderate currents. Economic importance: Source of algin. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan *Dictyota crispata Lamouroux Description: Thalli erect, up to 150 mm tall, greenish brown, branching repeatedly alternate-dichotomous forming rounded axil branches strap-shaped, 2.5-10.0 mm across, widest just below the forking, narrowest at the terminal portions. Outer margins of the blades entire. Habitat: Shallow waters, as epiphytes on large seaweeds Economic importance: Source of mineral (iodine) polysaccharides, sugar alcohol and terpene. Used as animal feed, human food and medicine (antibacterial). Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island Antique Seaweeds of Panay 23 Dictyota divaricata Lamouroux Description: Thalli up to 120 mm tall, forming loose clumps; branching dichotomous with obtuse angle. Branches strap-shaped, the older ones up to 3.0 or more mm wide, the younger terminal portions abruptly narrow, 1.0 mm or less wide. Apices of the terminal branches generally forked with acute apices. The presence of very narrow linear segments together with wider ones in the same thallus is characteristic of this species Habitat: Associated with other algae or reef areas exposed to moderate water movement. Economic importance: Source of minerals, pigments, polysaccharides and sugar alcohol. Use as animal feed, human food and medicine. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Womersley Description: Blade is thin, flattened, 15-45 mm x 10-70 mm, and orange to dark brown. Blade has a medulla composed of a layer of large cuboidal cells and 4-10 layers of sub-cortical and cortical cells. Habitat: Attached to rocks or dead corals in lower intertidal habitats or reef flats Collection site: Ivisan, Capiz; Nogas Island, Antique Padina australis Hauck Common name: Lap-lapayag (Iloku) Description: Plant is up to 120 mm tall, large, light brown, slightly calcified and with flattened blade. Flat blade is alternately divided by distinct hairlines into wide and narrow glabrous zones; the latter in the lower portion of blade bear the non-indusiate sori. Habitat: Deep tidepools and reef flats Collection site: Ajuy and Concepcion, Iloilo; Boracay Island and Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique 24 Seaweeds of Panay Padina sanctae-crucis Borgesen Description: Thalli fan-shaped up to 50 mm tall, ash-brown due to moderate calcification on both sides; stipe short supporting a single fan-shaped blade or the blade may be divided into fanshaped lobes. Habitat: Tidepools and shallow waters Economic importance: Source of natural products, pigments, polysaccharides and simple sugar. Use as animal feed, fertilizer, human food, medicine. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique Padina minor Yamada Common name: Lap-lapayag (Iloku) Description: Plant is 50-80 mm tall and yellowish brown to light brown, lightly calcified. Concentric hairlines on upper portion of blade are not well developed while lower portion of blade consists of concentric zones equidistant from each other. Habitat: Rocky substrate in inner reef flats Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, Estancia, and Guimbal, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique Order Scytosiphonales Family Scytosiphonaceae Colpomenia sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth) Derbes & Solier Common name: Lap-lapayag (Iloku) Description: Plant appears like a sac, has a smooth surface, usually solitary, golden brown, and attached by rhizoidal holdfast. Habitat: Shallow areas, tidepools and reef flat Economic importance: Source of algin. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Boracay Island and Tangalan, Aklan Hydroclathrus tenuis Tseng & Lu Common name: Sap-sapuyot (Iloku) Description: Plant is convoluted, golden brown, and very fine. Perforations range from 0.5 –2.5 mm in diameter. Margin is in-rolled. Thallus shows a layer of cortical cells 10-20 µm thick and large parenchymatous medulla. Plant occurs only during dry season. Habitat: Rocky substratum in semi-protected areas Economic importance: Human food. Collection site: Pandan, Antique Seaweeds of Panay 25 Hydroclathrus clathratus (Bovy ex C. Agardh) Howe Common name: Bal-balulang (Iloku) Description: Plant is reticulate forming thick clumps, light brown, with distinct network of coarse perforations, 1.0-4.5 mm diam., uniseriate hairs are abundant and arise from ill-defined depression in outer surface. Thallus consists of cortical cells (30 µm thick) and medulla of large parenchymatous cells. Plant occurs only during dry season. Habitat: Shallow reef flats Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique Order Fucales Family Cystoseiraceae Hormophysa cuneiformis (J.F. Gmelin) P.C. Silva Description: Plant is up to 192 mm tall and attached to substrate by discoid holdfast. Branches are composed of leaf-like, flat, or triquetrous segments with serrate or dentate outer margin. Branches generally have an oblong to elliptical vesicles at the center. Habitat: Rocky substratum exposed to strong water movement Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan 26 Seaweeds of Panay Family Sargassaceae Sargassum crassifolium J. Agardh Common name: Aragan (Iloku); kulapu (Hiligaynon) Description: Plant is up to 350 mm tall attached to substrate by a discoid holdfast. Short primary stipe gives rise to branches in irregular alternate arrangement. Blades are elliptical with coarsely dentated margin; prominent midrib vanishes towards apex. Scattered cryptostomata are present in leaves and spherical vesicles. Habitat: Upper intertidal zone exposed to strong water movement Economic importance: Source of algin, fertilizer and fodder. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique; Tangalan, Aklan Sargassum cristaefolium C. Agardh Common name: Aragan (Iloku); kulapu (Hiligaynon) Description: Plant appearance varies as it matures. Young plant has longer and broader oblong blades; blade is slightly tapered below with finely serrated margin. Mature plant has fewer and smaller blades 8-17 mm long and 1.7- 4.1 mm wide; blade is lanceolate or oblong with tapered bases but with rounded, obtuse, or acute apices provided with coarsely serrated to dentated outer margins. Midrib is distinct only up to a short distance from the tip. Cryptostomata are scattered on surface. Ovate or spherical vesicles 1.5-3 mm wide which have short stalks may grow singly on in clusters to be primary or secondary branches. Mature plants have denser and smaller vesicles. Habitat: Strongly attached to rocky substrates in semiexposed portion of reef Economic importance: Source of algin, fodder and fertilizer. Collection site: Boracay Island and Tangalan, Aklan; Concepcion, Iloilo Seaweeds of Panay 27 Sargassum oligocystum Montagne Common name: Aragan (Iloku); kulapu (Hiligaynon) Description: Plant is up to 600 mm tall, with short stipe giving rise to four flattened primary branches (up to 2.6 mm diam.). Lanceolate and bigger leaves with toothed margin are found in basal portion while smaller leaves are in the upper part. Midrib is prominent and vanishing towards apex with cryptostomata arranged along midrib. Vesicle with cryptostomata which has a flat stalk petiole 1.3 mm dia. is ellipsoidal to spherical, solitary, or in clusters. Habitat: Rocky substratum exposed to strong water movement Economic importance: Source of algin, fertilizer and fodder. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh Common name: Aragan (Iloku); kulapu (Hiligaynon) Description: Branching holdfast of this plant with a short erect stipe give rise to 8 primary branches. Basal portion of branches is naked while upper portion of main and secondary branches has numerous Y-shaped proliferations. Leaves are oblanceolate with dentated margin; prominent midrib is vanishing towards apex. Cryptostomata are scattered. Vesicles are found in secondary or tertiary branches, solitary or in clusters, and elliptical to spherical with few cryptostomata. Habitat: Inner reef area with coarse sandy-coralline and rocky substrates not exposed to strong water movement Economic importance: Human food; source of algin and auxin-like substance; fodder; indicator of heavy metal pollution; fertilizer; source of methane. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Nogas Island, Antique 28 Seaweeds of Panay Sargassum siliquosum J Agardh Common name: Aragan (Iloku); kulapu (Hiligaynon) Description: Mature plant is up to 450 mm tall. Cylindrical male receptacles up to 12.4 x 1.3 mm arise from the short stalk of spherical vesicle and are sometimes forked or branched at apices. Unlike S. polycystum, this species has discoid holdfast. Branching is irregularly alternate with terete branches. Habitat: Protected reef; strongly attached to rocky substrates Economic importance: Human food and/or fertilizer. Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Nogas Island, Antique Turbinaria conoides (J. Agardh) Kützing Description: Plant is erect, 150-160 mm tall, dark brown, and attached by coarse branched holdfast to coral rock. Branching is irregular. Leaves, 5-11 mm long and triangular, are turbinate and outlined by coarse marginal teeth. Habitat: Subtidal areas where water movement is not strong Economic importance: Human food; source of algin and minerals such as Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn; fertilizer. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan, Antique Turbinaria ornata (Turner) J. Agardh Description: Plant is 350-390 mm tall, erect, tough, dark brown, and firmly attached to rocks by a well-developed branching holdfast. Leaves are coarse, turbinate, fleshy, and crowded along erect axis. Center top of blade is concave and partialed or fully surrounded by a crown of teeth. A single vesicle may be found at depressed center usually among leaves at upper portion of thallus. Habitat: Rocky intertidal coastlines, tidepools, reef flats, and crests Economic importance: Human food; source of algin. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique CLASS CHLOROPHYCEAE Order Ulvales Family Ulvaceae Ulva clathrata (Roth) C. Agardh Common name: Lumot (Iloku) Description: Plant is up to 230 mm tall, in clusters, and bright to dark green. Base of main blade is cylindrical, becoming gradually compressed above. Several branches, similar to main blade, arising from the gradually contracted stalk-like base. Habitat: Shallow portion of intertidal zone; attached to pebbles or boulders Economic importance: Human and fish food; fish bait. Collection site: Tigbauan, Iloilo Seaweeds of Panay 29 Ulva fasciata Delile Common name: Gam-gamet, lab-labig (Iloku) Description: Plant is greenish to yellowish, often twisted and crumpled in appearance, and with irregular perforations. Young thalli are foliaceous (50-120 mm dia.) and divided into linear lobes at the apices when mature and attached by stalk-like base. Habitat: Sandy-rocky substrates Economic importance: Human and fish food; source of vitamin E; vermifuge. Collection site: Concepcion and Carles Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus Common name: Bitukang manok (Tagalog) Description: Plant is greenish to yellowish, cylindrical, long (80-340 mm), narrow (7-25 mm broad), and tapering to the base. Habitat: Sandy bottom in intertidal zone Economic importance: Human and fish food; fertilizer; source of vitamin E, protein, and tocopherols. Collection site: Tigbauan, Carles, and Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Casay and Nogas Island, Antique 30 Seaweeds of Panay Ulva pertusa Kjellman Common name: Gam-gamet (Iloku) Description: Plant is light green with foliaceous blade (225-245 mm broad) and papery thin with undulating margin. Habitat: Sandy bottom, attached to upper portion of floating net cages Economic importance: Human and fish food. Collection site: Nogas Island, and Pandan, Antique; Carles, Iloilo Ulva reticulata Forsskal Description: Thalli light to dark green; blade reticulate with holes of different sizes; section of blades shows two layers of rounded cells. Blade 65 µm thick, composed of two layers of ovatye cells; about 20 µm in length. Habitat: Reef flat area are usually entangled with the other macroalgae such as Sargassum and Turbinaria Economic importance: Source of carbonyl compound, fatty acids, minerals, pigments, polysaccharides, proteins and vitamins. Used as human food, medicine and potential methane source. Collection Site: Carles and Concepcion, Iloilo Order Cladophorales Family Anadyomenaceae Anadyomene wrightii Harvey ex J.E. Gray Description: Thallus is fan-shaped, forms clumps consisting of dark green blades 10-60 mm broad, and attached to the substrate by means of a short stalk with rhizoids. Plant is microscopically composed of contiguous cells in a branching filamentous system; larger cells give a rib-like appearance. Habitat: Rocky substrates exposed to moderate to strong waves Collection site: Concepcion, Carles, and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Ibajay, Tangalan, and Boracay Island, Aklan; Pandan and Nogas Island, Antique Family Cladophoraceae Chaetomorpha crassa (C. Agardh) Kützing Common name: Rip-ripis (Iloku), lumot (Iloku and Hiligaynon) Description: Filaments are uniseriate, coarse, and unbranched. Cells measure 400-800 µm long and up to 350 µm in diameter. Habitat: Sandy bottom often entangled to other seaweeds (Gracilaria edulis and Sargassum), seagrasses drifted to shore Economic importance: Fish food. Collection site: Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique; Batan, Aklan Seaweeds of Panay 31 Cladophora delicatula Montagne Description: Plant is up to 120 mm tall, dull green, loosely tufted, and soft. Attached to substrate by branching rhizoids. Branching is dichotomous to trichotomous and branchlets are often in one-sided series. Habitat: Shallow portion of lower intertidal zone Economic importance: Source of protein. Collection site: Tigbauan, Iloilo Order Siphonocladales Family Siphonocladaceae Boergesenia forbesii (Harvey) J. Feldmann Description: Plant is bright green and solitary or in clumps. Thalli are club-shaped 8-40 x 2-14 mm (h x w) in size and smooth. Different sizes of thallus are held together at the base by small rhizoid-like holdfasts when in clumps. Habitat: Sandy-rocky bottom forming clumps; sometimes epiphytic to larger seaweeds like Sargassum and Turbinaria Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique; Boracay Island, Ibajay, and Tangalan, Aklan Boodlea composita (Harvey) Brand Description: Plant is bright green and forms amorphous and spongiose clumps of net-like filaments. Branches are pinnately-alternately or irregularly arranged. Habitat: Sandy portion of the lower intertidal zone; sometimes attached to rocky substrate Collection site: Boracay Island and Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island and Pandan, Antique 32 Seaweeds of Panay Dictyosphaeria cavernosa (Forsskål) Børgesen Description: Plant is bright green attached to substrate by rhizoids. Thallus is composed of endogenously developed segments contained within the parental vesicle which press against each other forming a pseudoparenchyma. Young plant forms hollow spheres which rupture when plant matures. Habitat: Rocky substrates exposed to strong water movement Collection site: Ajuy, Iloilo; Tangalan and Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique Ventricaria ventricosa (J. Agardh) Olsen and J. West Description: Plant is dark green, single, 15 x 25 mm in size, oval to spherical, and filled with fluid. Small lenticular cells at the lower surface of the alga serve as holdfast. Habitat: Rocky substrates in intertidal zone Collection site: Tangalan, Ibajay, and Boracay Island, Aklan Order Caulerpales Family Caulerpaceae Caulerpa cupressoides (Vahl) C. Agardh Description: Plant is erect and up to 90 mm tall. Branches are feather-like with a broad axis bearing cylindrical and upcurved pinnules. Plant is attached to substrate by a stolon with fine rhizoids. Habitat: Sandy substrates in calm to moderate water movement of the intertidal zone Economic importance: Human food; antifungal property; lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan Seaweeds of Panay 33 Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh Common name: Ar-arusip (Iloku); latobilong (Akeanon) Description: Spherical ramuli wih short stalk are attached along the erect branch. A distinct constriction at the base of the ramuli connecting the stalk typifies this species. Habitat: Sandy-muddy substrates; cultured in brackishwater ponds Economic importance: Human food; source of minerals like Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe Zn; antifungal property; lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Ivisan, Capiz; Nogas Island, Antique; Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo Caulerpa peltata Lamouroux Common name: Lato-buklad (Akeanon), payong-payong (Hiligaynon), laba-laba (Estancia, Iloilo) Description: Ramuli end into a disc. Two forms of this species were observed; specimens with narrow disc up to 7.4-mm wide (Nogas and Boracay Is.) and specimens with broad disc up to 16.3-mm wide (Estancia). Young undeveloped discs of the latter were also observed. Habitat: Sandy-muddy to muddy substrates Economic importance: Human food; source of caulerpin (anaesthetic-like); antifungal property; lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Boracay Island, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique *Caulerpa peltata var. macrodisca (Decaisne) Weber-van Bosse Common name: Laba-laba, saluysoy, butu-butunes, ar-arusip Description: Plants consist of horizontal stolon and erect branches supporting several short stalked branchlets each terminating in a disc, 10-15 mm in diameter. Habitat: Grow in tidepools on soft-muddy substrate in well protected areas. Economic importance: Source of amino acids, minerals, pigments and simple sugars. Used as human food; antifungal and lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo 34 Seaweeds of Panay Caulerpa racemosa (Forsskål) J. Agardh Common name: Lato (Hiligaynon, Cebuano); lato-bilong (Akeanon); ar-arusip (Iloku) Description: Plant grows up to 85 mm tall. Erect branches have grape-like ramuli which assume other forms depending on prevailing environmental conditions. Ramuli are arranged alternately or radially along the axis. Ramuli-like extension of the stalk without constriction at the joint. Habitat: Sandy-rocky substrates in calm waters; attached to soft or hard objects in floating net cages Economic importance: Human food; source of caulerpacin; antifungal property; lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Estancia and Concepcion, Iloilo; Nogas Island, Antique *Caulerpa racemosa var. laetevirens (Montagne) Weber-van Bosse Common Name: Ar-arusip (Iloku), lato (Hiligaynon, Cebuano), lato-bilong (Akeanon) Description: Thalli erect, bearing clavate determinate ramuli with short stalk and oval spherical tips; the arrangement and shape of the ramuli is dense, arranged radially, alternately, pinnately, or irregularly on the erect branch, the distal portion of the ramuli may be clavate, turbinate, globose truncate, or sometime discoid. Habitat: Found in calm, turbid waters, attached to soft muddy substrates Economic importance: Source of amino acids, fatty acids, lipids and minerals; used as fish and human food ;medicine. Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Pandan, Antique; Tangalan, Aklan *Caulerpa racemosa var. lamourouxii (Turner) Weber-van Bosse Common Name: Ar-arusip (Iloku), lato (Hiligaynon, Cebuano), lato-bilong (Akeanon) Description: Plant is characterized by possessing short erect branches bearing crowded determinate branchlet (ramuli) with short stalks and oval tips; the arrangement and shape of the ramuli vary among the many varieties, these may be few or dense, arranged radially, alternately, pinnately, or irregularly as the erect branch; the distal portion of the ramuli may be clavate, turbinate, globose, truncate or sometime discoid. Habitat: Thrive in calm, turbid waters, attached to soft muddy substrates Economic importance: Source of amino acids, ether, fatty acids, fiber, and lipids. Collection site: Carles, Concepcion, and Estancia, Iloilo Seaweeds of Panay 35 Caulerpa serrulata (Forsskål) J. Agardh Description: Spirally twisted blade with serrated margins is peculiar of this species. Habitat: Sandy-coral substrates in shallow areas with moderate water movement Economic importance: Human food; medicine (antifungal, lowers blood pressure). Collection site: Guimbal, Carles, and Estancia, Iloilo; Ivisan, Capiz; Nogas Island, Antique Caulerpa sertularioides (S.G. Gmelin) Howe Description: Plant is erect with feather-like blades, grows up to 30 mm tall and arises from a branched stolon attached to the substratum by fine rhizoids. Blade pinnules are cylindrical and pinnately arranged at the axis. Habitat: Sandy-rocky substrates in close association with seagrasses in shallow, exposed, or protected areas Economic importance: Human food; antifungal property; lowers blood pressure. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo 36 Seaweeds of Panay Family Codiaceae Codium arabicum Kützing Description: Plant is dark green and forms a spongy convoluted mass on hard substrates. Unbranched utricles have truncated apices 7-17 µm broad, 40-55 µm high. Habitat: Coral or rocky substrates in areas with strong waves Economic importance: Human food; antibacterial and antitumor properties. Collection site: Concepcion and Ajuy, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan *Codium geppiorum O.C. Schmidt Common name: Pok-poklo (Iloku) Description: Plant is dark green, clumpy, and spongy. Branches cylindrical 1-3 mm diam. Branching is equally dichotomous and utricles have truncated to rounded apices 20-25 µm wide, 60 µm long. Habitat: Rocky substratum in subtidal zone Economic importance: Human food; antibacterial and antitumor properties. Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, and Carles, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique Family Halimedaceae Halimeda macroloba Decaisne Common name: Sal-salumague (Iloku) Description: Plant grows up to 110 mm high with bulbous holdfast. Thalli are composed of large segments 7-20 mm high, 6-24 mm broad with distinctly lobed distal margin. Habitat: Sandy-muddy substrates in lower intertidal zone and associated with seagrasses Economic importance: Antibacterial property; contains growth regulators such as auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin. Collection site: Concepcion, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Oltayan Island, Capiz Seaweeds of Panay 37 Halimeda opuntia (Linn.) Lamouroux Description: Plant forms amorphous clumps and is attached to substrate by rhizoids arising from segments at the lower portion of clumps. Segments (6-8 mm wide, 3.5-5.0 mm high) are heavily calcified, oriented in various directions. Habitat: Sand flats in lower intertidal zone in close association with other seaweeds and seagrasses Economic importance: Antibacterial property. Collection site: Pandan, Antique; Concepcion, Iloilo; Olotayan Island, Capiz Halimeda tuna (Ellis & Solander) Lamouroux Common name: Sal-salumague (Iloku) Description: Plant is up to 90 mm high, bright green, and attached to substrate by a sponge-like holdfast. Segments 6-13 mm high, 22 mm wide are moderately calcified with upper margins thickened and sinuated. Habitat: Rocky substrates in higher intertidal edge or in crevices in subtidal areas Economic importance: Antibacterial property; fodder. Collection site: Ajuy and Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Nogas Island, Antique 38 Seaweeds of Panay Family Udoteaceae *Avrainvillea lacerata Harvey ex J. Agardh Description: Thalli dark green, solitary, thick rhizomes bearing many crowded, small, thin fronds 10-30 mm high and 100-150 mm broad. Habitat: Middle intertidal rock pools with sandy bottom or sandy coral reefs Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo Avrainvillea erecta (Berkeley) A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp Description: Plant is 70 mm tall, solitary, very dark green when fresh, and attached to substrate by a short and bulbous holdfast 18 x 12 mm diam. Blade is flat, flabellate, and finely fibrous. Blade filament is cylindrical, dichotomous, and constricted at the point of dichotomy. Habitat: Shallow and protected sandy bottom Collection site: Carles, Iloilo *Avrainvillea obscura (C. Agardh) J. Agardh Description: Thalli solitary, blade flat, cuneate to sub-orbicular, blade margin entire, finely fibrous to somewhat erose, blade filaments yellowish, repeatedly dichotomous and constricted at the dichotomies, terminal filaments 18-27 microns wide with rounded apices. Habitat: Found in shallow areas or sandy substrates Economic importance: Source of minerals, pigments and simple sugar. Collection site: Carles and Estancia, Iloilo, Olotayan Island, Capiz Rhipidosiphon javensis Montagne Description: Thallus erect, wedge-shaped or fan-shaped, pale green or grayish in color, margins irregular, attached to substrate by rhizoidal branched filaments, blade filaments straight, smooth 40-50 µm in diameter, supra-dichotomal constrictions uneven. Habitat: Grows on rocks or dead coral fragments at middle intertidal zone in sheltered areas. Economic importance: Source of minerals, pigments and simple sugars; used as antibacterial. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Roxas City, Capiz Seaweeds of Panay 39 Udotea occidentalis (Berkeley) A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp Description: Plant is up to 50 mm high and 90 mm wide, light green, stipitate, and moderately calcified. Plant can be found singly or in colony. Blade filaments have stalked bell-like capitula 14 µm high, 4-7 µm wide with short finger-like projections at apices. Habitat: Sandy substrates in lower intertidal zone Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan Udotea orientalis A. Gepp & E.S. Gepp Description: Fan-shaped blade 16-37 mm high, 17-43 mm broad is bright green. Blade filaments are 20 µm wide and simple. Habitat: Sandy shallow area; sand-covered rocks Collection site: Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan, Antique *Udotea palmetta Decaisne Description: Thalli solitary, flabellate, segmented, 10 to 54 mm tall excluding holdfast, the single fan-shaped blade is 30-45 mm tall and 30-40 mm wide, surface zonate, the outer margin finely fibrous, axial filament cylindrical, extending almost throughout the entire length of the thallus giving rise to successive whorls of lateral branches. Habitat: Attached on rocks or reef flat or near reef margins Economic importance: Source of natural products such as pigments, starch and steroids. Collection site: Nogas Island, Antique 40 Seaweeds of Panay Order Dasycladales Family Dasycladaceae Bornetella nitida Munier-Chalmas ex Sonder Description: Plant gregarious, bright green to brownish red in color, erect, sub-cylindrical to clavate, usually bent, very lightly calcified, sometimes shortly stipitate, attached by means of small rhizoidal holdfast; central axial filament cylindrical, extending almost throughout the entire length of the thallus giving rise to successive whorls of lateral branches. Habitat: Attached to rocky substrates in intertidal areas Economic importance: Source of natural products such as pigments, starch and steroids. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Olotayan Island, Capiz *Bornetella oligospora Solms-Laubach Description: Plants club-shaped, green to brownish red in color, thallus with cylindrical axial filament extending almost the whole length of the thallus from which successive whorls of lateral branches arise; attached to substrate of small rhizoidal holdfast. Habitat: Grow in colonies on solid or rocky substrate at mid to low intertidal to shallow subtidal areas Economic importance: Source of natural products such as pigments, polysaccharides and steroids. Collecting site: Estancia and Carles, Iloilo; Olotayan Island, Capiz Bornetella spherica (Zanardini) Solms-Laubach Description: Plant is spherical 4-5 mm diam., green, and in colony. Attached by rhizoids from base of thallus. Habitat: Rocky substrates Collection site: Concepcion and Estancia, Iloilo; Tangalan, Aklan; Pandan, Antique Seaweeds of Panay 41 *Chlorocladus australasicus Sonder Description: Thalli with minimal calcification, up to 55 mm tall, 3-4 mm wide, clavate to cylindrical with distinctly green and hairy subacute apex. Successive whorls of closely-placed short lateral compound branches arise from the elongated central axis. Habitat: Found in shallow, protected areas, or in tidepools attached to solid substrates such as rocks, gravel and coral fragments. Economic importance: Source of natural products such as pigments and polysaccharides. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Roxas City, Capiz *Neomeris annulata Dickie Description: Plants cylindrical-clavate, up to 30 mm tall and 3.5 mm in diameter at its widest portion, white and cylindrical at the middle and lower portions but bright green and fuzzy at the hairy apex; the center of the thallus is a terete axis from which arise closely placed whorls of compound lateral branches. Habitat: Found in shallow, protected areas, or in tidepools, attached to solid substrates such as rocks, gravels, pieces of shell and coral fragments Economic importance: Source of natural products such as pigments and simple sugars. Collection site: Estancia, Iloilo; Roxas City, Capiz Family Polyphysaceae Acetabularia dentata Solms-Laubach Description: Thalli 20-40 mm tall, heavily calcified, long thin whitish stipe; cap greenish consists of 25-40 gametangial rays. Plant attached to rocky substrate. Habitat: Grows in shallow, calm waters or in tidepools Collection site: Ajuy, Concepcion, Estancia, and Carles, Iloilo; Nogas Island, and Pandan, Antique 42 Seaweeds of Panay *Acetabularia major Martens Common name: Payong-payong (Iloku) Description: Plant has stipe 50-210 mm long, which ends up into a disc 4-12 mm diam, bearing 75-99 sporangial rays. Habitat: Rocky-coral substrate in lower intertidal zone Economic importance: Medicine for renal disorder. Collection site: Tigbauan, Iloilo Halicoryne wrightii Harvey Description: Plant grows up to 50 mm tall and 4-5 mm wide, pale green, moderately calcified, usually in colony. There are 65-75 whorls along the main axis. Habitat: Rocky-sandy substrates Collection site: Guimbal, Iloilo Acknowledgement Seaweeds of Panay 43 The authors are grateful to the following colleagues who helped in the collection of samples: Ms. Ma.Teresa de-Castro-Mallare, Amadeo B. Biter, Anie Unlayao, Keneth Tibubos, Ephraim Doroteo, and Guillermo Unlayao (†). Likewise, the authors would like to thank Romeo Buendia for his skill in photography and Dr. Lawrence Liao, Biology Department, University of San Carlos, Cebu City for confirming the nomenclature of the species described in this book and for reviewing the whole manuscript. 44 Seaweeds of Panay Glossary agar - a phycocolloid characteristic of the red algae; a sulfated polysaccharide (galactan) component of cell walls and intercellular spaces, extracted primarily from Gelidium, Gracilaria and Gelidiella. algin - soluble sodium salt of alginic acid amorphous - having no specific shape or form anatomose - to join together forming a network anisogamy – union of male and female gametes that are of different size and motility apiculate - with a short and sharp point asexual reproduction - increase in number of individuals not involving gametic union assimilatory filaments - pigmented or photosynthetic filaments attenuate - tapering gradually to a narrow extremity auxin - organic substance which promotes elongation of plant shoots and controls other growth effects blade - broad, membranous distal portion of foliaceous algae bifid - divided into two equal portions by a median cleft bifurcate - to divide or fork into two branches bulbous – bulging caespitose – forming a dense turf calcified - hardened by the deposition of calcium salts capitulum (capitula) - cell in the antheridium from which antheridial filaments arise carrageenan - a phycocolloid characteristic of some classes of the red algae like Gigartinaceae, Solieriaceae, Phyllophoraceae, and Hypneaceae cartilaginous - firm and gristly cervicorn - resembling a deer’s horn clavate- club-shaped compressed- flattened concentric- having a common center, as in circles or spheres conceptacle- an organ or cavity enclosing reproductive bodies as in Fucales and Corallinaceae constriction- state of being contracted or squeezed convolute- twisting corymbose- resembling a flower cluster that has a flat-topped or convex structure cryptostomata - minute cavity in the outer cortex of Fucales bearing tuft of hairs crustose- forming a crust cuboidal- square-like cuneate- wedge-shaped cytokinin- plant growth regulator cystocarp- the carposporophyte and surrounding envelope (pericarp) provided by the gametophyte decumbent- reclining on the substrate decussate- in pairs alternating at right angles dentate- toothed determinate branchlet- branchlet that has limited growth dichotomous- forked into two similar parts discoid- having the form of a disc divaricate- branching at wide angles elliptical- having the form of an ellipse encrusting- tightly adhering to surface entire- having the margin continuous and not broken by division, teeth or serrations epiphyte- plant that grows/attaches on other plants fasciculate- arranged in small bundles filiform- thread-like flabellate- fan-shaped; broad and round at the top, narrowed below like a fan foliaceous- leaf-like forcipate- incurved like a pair of pincers forked- split into two gelatino-membranous- papery and mucilaginous in nature genicula- uncalcified joints between segments in a coralline alga gibberellin- plant growth regulator glabrous zone- smooth zone; surface devoid of hairs Seaweeds of Panay 45 glomeriliferous- resembling a head-like cluster of flowers hapteron (haptera)- basal multicellular outgrowths forming part of a holdfast holdfast- basal attachment organ of an alga indusium- a protective covering of sporangia interdichotomy- portion of a branch or segment in between the dichotomies internode - portion of an axis between two nodes intertidal zone- portion of the shore frequently covered and exposed during tidal changes isogamy – union of two gaemtes of the same size lanceolate- narrow and tapering towards the apex or to both ends lateral- pertaining to the side linear- narrow and several times longer than width with parallel sides moniliform- like a string of beads monosporangium- sporangium that produces a single spore monospore – spore formed within the parent cell by division of the entire protoplast mucilaginous- gelatinous- like substance containing protein and polysaccharide node- site on axis from which leaves and/ or branches arise oblanceolate- broadest above the middle and tapering downward obovate- inversely ovate, with the broad end upward and narrow end at the base oogamy – union of two gametes wherein the male gamete is very small, flagellated and active while the famale gamete is very large, non-flagellated and completely motionless ostiole- small opening ovate- egg-shaped paniculate- arranged in a loosely branching flower cluster parenchyma- tissue composed of living thin-walled cells, most often functioning in photosynthesis or storage percurrent- extending throughout the entire length perforation- presence of small holes pericarp- sterile covering of carposporophyte pinnate- with filaments or branches arising on opposites sides of axis; feather-like pinnule- one of the pinnately disposed division of a pinnate structure polysiphonous – with many ‘siphons’ or pericentral cells prostrate- lying flat on the ground racemose- having the form of a raceme; the organs (receptacles, leaves, etc.) are stalked and attached to a common axis radial- radiating from an axis or center ramuli- determinate branches receptacle- specialized fertilized portion of branches in Fucales containing conceptacles reniform- kidney-shaped; broader than long with a sinus at the base reticulate- net- like rhizoid- unicellular or filamentous attachment organ rostrate- stichidium protruding portion rugose- wrinkled or ridged secund- arranged on one side of axis serrate- having small sharp teeth projected forward sessile- borne directly on thallus, without a stalk sexual reproduction- increase in the number of individuals usually involving union of gametes (plasmogamy) and nuclei (karyogamy), association of chromosomes, and meiosis sinuate- with a deep wavy margin solitary- singly spinose- spine-like spongiose- without firmness, readily compressible sporangia – spore producing structures spray zone – area frequently sprayed by waves stichidium (stichidia)- specialized branch producing tetrasporangia as in Hypnea and Gelidiella, usually enlarged over vegetative axes stipe- stem-like, usually basal part of thallus above holdfast stipitate- provided with stipe stolon- slender branch or shoot growing out from base of a parent plant and capable of producing another shoot substrate- base or material on which an organism lives subtidal zone-portion of the shore which is always submerged even at the lowest tide subverticillate- arranged in the same point on the axis 46 Seaweeds of Panay symbiont- living together terete- with a circular transverse section, cylindrical thallus- simple vegetative plant body undifferentiated into true leaves, stems and roots tidepools – a deep or shallow pool in the intertidal zone that remains flooded even during the lowest tide triquetrous- three-sided truncate- blunt-ended; abruptly cut-off tuft- in cluster tubercle – a small round projection turbinate- inversely conical; bell-shaped undulate- to have a wavy form or surface unilocular sporangium- sporangium in which all zoospores are produced in a single cavity uniseriate- in a single series utricle- dilated or swollen terminal portion of a filament or tube, as in Codium vesicle- bladder-like cell whorl- circular arrangement of like parts, i.e., leaves, branches, around a point on an axis References Seaweeds of Panay 47 Abbott, I.A. 1998. 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Kalikasan, Philipp. J. Biol. 7:7-30. Waaland, J.R. 1977. Common Seaweeds of the Pacific Coast. Pacific Search Press. USA. 119 p. Yamamoto, H. 1978. Systematic and anatomic study of genus Gracilaria in Japan. Mem. Fac. Fish. Hokkaido Univ. 25: 97-138. Yoshida, T. 1988. Japanese and Taiwanese species of Sargassum subgenus Eusargassum. In: I.A. Abbott (ed.). Taxonomy of Economic Seaweeds with Reference to some Pacific and Caribbean Species 2:5-21. About the Authors Dr. Anicia Q. Hurtado was a Senior Scientist of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department when she left the department in June 2004. She was born in Currimao, Ilocos Norte where she finished her elementary and secondary schools as an honor pupil. She entered college as a university scholar at the University of the East, where she completed two baccalaureate degrees: Pre-Medicine in 1970 and Biological Science in 1971. She taught at the Mariano Marcos State University College of Fisheries in Currimao, Ilocos Norte from 1971 to 1982. In between this period, she finished MA in Biology Education at De La Salle University, Manila in 1980. In 1982, she got a MONBUSHO Scholarship grant that enabled her to pursue a Master’s degree in Agriculture (Phycology) in 1985 and Doctor of Agriculture (Phycology) at Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan in 1988. After she came back from Japan, she joined SEAFDEC/AQD as an Associate Scientist in the Farming Systems Section. From then on, she conducted many research studies dealing with aquaculture, biology and ecology of seaweeds notably Gracilaria, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma. To date she has published around 49 scientific papers on seaweeds in both international and local journals and conference proceedings, three of which have won her national awards for best research papers. In 2000, she was a recipient of a Special Fellowship Program of Japan to attend a Special Training on Seaweed Biotechnology with emphasis on Tissue Culture and Mutagenesis at the Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Dr. Hurtado is an active member of various international and local scientific societies such as the International Seaweed Association, Phycological Society of Amercia, Asia-Pacific Phycological Society, among others. She is a member of the Editorial Board of an international journal, Botanica Marina. She is a thesis adviser and critic to many graduate and post-graduate students, a lecturer and a trainor, project consultant, but most importantly, an accomplished research scientist who passionately loves seaweeds. At present, she is a Visiting Scientist of the Seaweed Program, Research Division, SEAFDEC/AQD. Ms. Maria Rovilla J. Luhan is a Researcher at the Seaweed Project, Farming Systems and Ecology Section. She graduated from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 1981 with a degree of BS in Fisheries. She joined the Training and Extension Division of SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department in 1982 until 1987. In 1988, the Seaweed Project was created and she started as a research assistant. Her pursuit for further academic advancement was realized when she finished Master of Science in Fisheries Biology at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas in 1991. As a senior researcher of the Seaweed Project, she conducted studies on stock assessment, culture and agar quality. She is conducting biotechnology studies for the renewable and improvement of seaweeds stocks. She was a research student at the Laboratory of Phycology, Tokyo University of Fisheries, Japan in 1993-1995 under the MONBUSHO Graduate Program. She contributed a great effort in the establishment of the Algal Biotechnology Laboratory, one of the four biotechnology laboratories of SEAFDEC/AQD, and at present a leading researcher of the same laboratory. Dr. Nicolas G. Guanzon, Jr. was a Scientist I at SEAFDEC AQD when he left the department in July 2004. He was also the Larval Food Laboratory Supervisor, Nursery Section. He obtained his DSc and MS in Agriculture from Kyoto University, Japan as Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho) scholar. He also holds an MEd in Biology from UP in the Visayas, Philippines. He finished his BS Biology from Central Philippine University, Jaro, Iloilo City. His areas of specialization are on seaweed assessment and inventory, seaweed farming, monitoring of inorganic pollutants using micro- and macroalgae, plankton biology, and pond culture of fish and crustaceans. He is author and co-author of several papers published in national and international journals and proceedings. He is an active member of the Philippine Association of Japan Ministry of Education Scholars (PHILAJAMES), Philippine Association of Marine Science (PAMS), and the Asian Fisheries Society. He has received various awards and honors including Best Research Paper Award as author from the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy Research and Development in 1998 and the 1996 Dr. Elvira O. Tan Memorial Award for Best Published Paper in Aquaculture as co-author. Presently, Dr. Guanzon is a professor of biology in the Life Sciences Department, College of Arts and Sciences at Central Philippine University, Iloilo City. To order this book: Ÿ E-mail sales@aqd.seafdec.org.ph Ÿ Fax to (63-33) 511 8709 Ÿ Write to Sales & Circulation SEAFDEC/AQD Tigbauan, Iloilo Philippines 5021