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R.J. Wilkes, L. McIvor andM.D. Guiry. 2006. Vegetative morphology and rbcL phylogeny of some members of the genera Botryocladiaand Irvinea(Rhodymeniaceae, Rhodophyta). Phycologia45: 481–494. DOI: 10.2216/05-11.1Botryocladiais a genus of marine red algae (Rhodophyta) generally found in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate seas. There are currently 35 described species, but the taxonomic status of many of these remains confused. Recently, the genus was split into two genera, with the new genus, Irvinea, described based on morphological and molecular evidence. Only one species, I. ardreana, is currently assigned to the newer genus. For this study, a number of cultured Botryocladiaand Irvineastrains from the Mediterranean and Caribbean were examined. Each was examined microscopically and the key features currently used for identification were evaluated. Up to 1277 bp of the rbcL gene was PCR amplified for each isolate and directly sequenced. The molecular data confirm that the species currently considered as Botryocladiado not form a monophyletic group. Botryocladia boergeseniigrouped in a clade with I. ardreanawith the remaining Botryocladiaspecies in a separate grouping. We propose the transfer of B. boergeseniito the genus Irvineaon the basis of the molecular and morphological data. Morphological and molecular data for the other species examined were also evaluated although little correlation between the morphological features and the rbcL data was observed. The taxonomic utility of some of the morphological features is called into doubt, although clear differences between the genera Botryocladiaand Irvineacan be seen. In addition to the morphological features currently regarded as important intergeneric characters, the presence of branched vesicles as an indicator for species of Irvineashould be added.

Vegetative and reproductive growth of individually marked plants of the brown alga Himanthalia elongata was monitored over 2·5 years at two sites with different wave exposures on the Irish west coast. Macro-recruits were first visible to the unaided eye in February/March. About 65% of all buttons produced receptacles during autumn of the same year, whereas others remained sterile. Growth of receptacles started between late August and late November, when vegetative plants were 9–14 months old, but no further plants became reproductive after December. At both sites, length increase of receptacles was greatest between February and April, but only longitudinal growth occurred and no more new dichotomies were produced. At the more wave-exposed site, growth was fastest in plants growing in red algal turfs and slowest in plants on open rock. Growth rates were maximal when seawater temperatures were 10–12 °C in early spring but decreased from May onwards with the maturation of receptacles aged 7–9 months in June. Release of viable gametes started in June and continued throughout the autumn and winter, until all plants disappeared from the population in February. Plant density was highest in March after the appearance of macro-recruits in the population, and declined during summer when the number of buttons decreased. Percentage plant cover was highest in June immediately before the onset of gamete release and this was followed by the decay and disintegration of receptacles. Since both survival and growth of young buttons was highest in red algal turfs and lowest on exposed rocks, the distribution of H. elongata on semi-exposed shores in Ireland may be limited by the availability of suitable micro-habitats for recruitment, and reduced by the early loss of fertile, adult plants from exposed sites.