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Brown Algae (Phaeophyceae) in Rivers

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River Algae

Abstract

Freshwater brown algae can be abundant in streams, but represent just seven species in the Phaeophyceae, a class of ~2000 species, most from marine environments. Freshwater species do not form parenchyma, but are based on one of the three filamentous growth forms: (1) uniseriate, creeping filaments infrequently or frequently branched; (2) complex branched forms producing basal and vertical series of filaments forming a crust; and (3) multiseriate, frequently branched forms. Their evolutionary history and relation to marine taxa is unclear, with molecular data suggesting some closely related to existing marine taxa, while others forming a separate clade of freshwater forms. Most species are known from few locations worldwide, with all but a few reports from sites in the northern hemisphere. All species are benthic and most colonize epilithic substrata, but a few are epiphytes on macrophytes or other algae. A key to all known species is provided.

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Acknowledgements

My thanks go to Alissa Perrone, Kam Truhn, Robert Sheath, Rosalina Stancheva, and Xian Wang for assistance in field sampling over the years. Also thanks go to Tim Entwisle, Elsa Kusel-Fetzmann, Dieter Müller, Jan Simons, Steve Skinner, John West, and Robert Wilce for advice on phaeophyte populations, and general information on the biology of the brown algae.

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  1. Louis Calder Center—Biological Field Station, Fordham University, Armonk, NY, 10504, USA

    John D. Wehr

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  1. John D. Wehr
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Correspondence to John D. Wehr .

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  1. UNESP, Zoologia E Botanica, SAO JOSE DO RIO PRETO, São Paulo, Brazil

    Orlando Necchi JR

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Wehr, J.D. (2016). Brown Algae (Phaeophyceae) in Rivers. In: Necchi JR, O. (eds) River Algae. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31984-1_6

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