Zonaria aureomarginata

Zonaria aureomarginata
Zonaria aureomarginata in Long Bay, Auckland

Not Threatened (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Sar
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Ochrophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Dictyotales
Family: Dictyotaceae
Genus: Zonaria
Species:
Z. aureomarginata
Binomial name
Zonaria aureomarginata
J.A. Phillips & W.A.Nelson, 1998

Zonaria aureomarginata is a species of brown algae in the family Dictyotaceae.[2] It was originally described in 1998. It is endemic to New Zealand. Z. aureomarginata can be found near Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, the North Island, the northern parts of the South Island as well as at the Chatham Islands. It inhabits the intertidal zone to the upper subtital zone at depths of between 1 and 5m and can be found on rugged reefs as well as in exposed coastal tidal pools. As at 2019 this species has a New Zealand Threat classification status of "Not Threatened".

Taxonomy

Z. aureomarginata was first described in 1998 by Julie A. Phillips and Wendy Nelson.[3][4] The holotype specimen is held at Te Papa.[4] The type locality of Z. aureomarginata is Island Bay, Wellington.[5] Aureomarginata means 'golden margins' in Latin.[4][6]

Description

This species is dark brown in colour and has multiple upright fanlike fronds that are semi circular in shape. The branches grow straight and flat and the tips of each branch are fanlike, broad and golden in colour. Z. aureomarginata attach themselves to surfaces via a holdfast that can be as large as 2 cm in width. Z. aureomarginata grows up to 30 cm in length. It is regarded as having a firm texture.[5]

Z. aureomarginata can be distinguished from other Zonaria species by its habitat of shallow water, and the broad and golden tips of the fronds.[7] Under a microscope Z. aureomarginata can be distinguished from its sister species Z. turneriana as the cells in the pith region have an irregular size and form irregular rows and the blades of the algae vary in cell layers from 12 to 14 reducing to 8 cell layers at the edge of the branch.[5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to New Zealand.[4] This species has been found near the Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island as well as at the Chatham Islands.[5]

Habitat

Z. aureomarginata inhabits rugged reefs as well as exposed coastal tidal pools. It can be found from the intertidal zone to upper subtital zone at depths of between 1 and 5m.[5]

Conservation status

As at 2019 this species has been classified by the New Zealand Department of Conservation as "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Zonaria aureomarginata". nztcs.org.nz. 2019. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  2. ^ "Zonaria aureomarginata J.A.Phillips & W.A.Nelson". www.nzor.org.nz. Archived from the original on 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  3. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Zonaria aureomarginata J.A.Phillips & W.A.Nelson, 1998". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2025-02-28.
  4. ^ a b c d J. A. Phillips; W. A. Nelson (1998). "Typification of the Australasian Brown Alga Zonaria turneriana J. Agardh (Dictyotales) and Description of the Endemic New Zealand Species, Zonaria aureomarginata sp. nov". Botanica Marina. 41 (1–6). doi:10.1515/BOTM.1998.41.1-6.77. ISSN 0006-8055. Wikidata Q60390087.(subscription required)
  5. ^ a b c d e Wendy Nelson (September 2013). New Zealand Seaweeds: An Illustrated Guide. Illustrator: Nancy Adams. Te Papa Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-0-9876688-1-3. LCCN 2013481391. OCLC 841897290. OL 30991410M. Wikidata Q59540231.
  6. ^ "Zonaria aureomarginata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  7. ^ Nelson, Wendy A.; Bilewitch, Jaret P.; Sutherland, Judy E. (2018-07-03). "Distribution of the genus Zonaria (Dictyotales: Phaeophyceae) in New Zealand, and description of Zonaria cryptica sp. nov from Stewart Island". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 56 (3): 264–275. Bibcode:2018NZJB...56..264N. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2018.1478310. ISSN 0028-825X.