Halimeda tuna

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Species of alga (seaweed)

title: "Halimeda tuna" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bryopsidales", "plants-described-in-1816"] description: "Species of alga (seaweed)" topic_path: "general/bryopsidales" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halimeda_tuna" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of alga (seaweed) ::

| image = Alga (Halimeda tuna), Zanzíbar, Tanzania, 2024-05-29, DD 43.jpg | image_caption = Halimeda tuna on the Sicilian coast | image_alt = Halimeda tuna | genus = Halimeda | species = tuna | authority = (J. Ellis & Solander) J. V. Lamouroux, 1816 | synonyms =

  • Corallina tuna J.Ellis & Solander, 1768
  • Halimeda platydisca Decaisne, 1842
  • Halimeda tuna f. albertisii (Piccone) De Toni, 1889
  • Halimeda tuna f. platydisca (Decaisne) E.S.Barton, 1901
  • Halimeda tuna var. albertisii Piccone, 1883
  • Halimeda tuna var. platydisca (Decaisne) Børgesen, 1911 | synonyms_ref =

Halimeda tuna is a species of calcareous green seaweed in the order Bryopsidales. It is found on reefs in the Atlantic Ocean, the Indo-Pacific region and the Mediterranean Sea. Halimeda tuna is the type species of the genus Halimeda and the type locality is the Mediterranean Sea. The specific name "tuna" comes from the Taíno language, meaning "cactus" and referring to the resemblance of the thallus to the growth form of an Opuntia cactus.

Description

Halimeda tuna is a calcareous green seaweed, attached to the seabed by a holdfast. The tube has flattened, disc-like segments connected by flexible joints. The surface of these segments have swollen areas called utricles which together make a tabular "cellular pavement". Below and between these utricles, there are gaps and it is here that the fluid is saturated with calcium carbonate and crystalline needles of aragonite form. These stiffen the segments and make the seaweed unpalatable to fish. When the seaweed dies, this skeletal material breaks down into "sand". Members of this genus are likely to be one of the most important agents of calcification in the marine environment, considerably more productive in tropical seas than stony corals.

Distribution

This species is found in the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific region, the Mediterranean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. It grows on rocky reefs from the shallow subtidal zone down to depths of about 70 m. In the Mediterranean Sea it occurs in two separate habitat types; shallow, warm lagoons and sheltered places in the central Mediterranean and deep water (18 m) rocky habitats in the northwest Mediterranean. Similarly, in the Florida Keys, it is the dominant green alga in shallow back reef locations and in much deeper, less well lit, reef slope habitats.

Ecology

The thallus of this seaweed is often overgrown by epiphytes which are at their maximum abundance in summer. The segments are sometimes damaged by storms, but are replaced by new growth which occurs with rising temperatures and increasing amounts of irradiation and dissolved nutrients. In Florida, reproductive events occurred simultaneously across the reef, with up to 5% of thalli developing gametangia. Asexual reproduction also occurred through fragmentation or the growth of vegetative stolons.

Human uses

This seaweed has been described as pleasant to eat with oil, vinegar, and salt.

References

References

  1. Guiry, Michael D.. (2019). "''Halimeda tuna'' (J.Ellis & Solander) J.V.Lamouroux, 1816".
  2. Guiry, M.D.. "''Halimeda tuna'' (J.Ellis & Solander) J.V.Lamouroux". AlgaeBase.
  3. Day, Robert. (1996). "The Cell Biology of the Bryopsidales". Seascope.
  4. "''Halimeda tuna'' (J. Ellis & Solander) J.V. Lamouroux". SeaLifeBase.
  5. Ballesteros, E.. (1991). "Seasonality of Growth and Production of a Deep-water Population of ''Halimeda tuna'' (Chlorophyceae, Caulerpales) in the North-western Mediterranean". Botanica Marina.
  6. Vroom, Peter S.. (2003). "Field biology of ''Halimeda tuna'' (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) across a depth gradient: comparative growth, survivorship, recruitment, and reproduction". Hydrobiologia.
  7. (1651). "Historia plantarum [...] Tomus III". Ebroduni.
  8. (27 May 1980). "Advances in Marine Biology". Academic Press.

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bryopsidalesplants-described-in-1816