Synonyms
Boxwork rhodolith; Coralline algal nodules; Maerl; Nucleated rhodoliths; Oncolith/oncoid; Prâlines; Rhodoid
Definition
Rhodolith/maerl is the most common term used for free living coralline red algae which live on sediments (Steller et al., 2003).
Description
The term rhodolith literally means “red stone” (Bosence, 1983a) and consists of the ancient Greek words for roselike (ῥόδειος) and stone (λíθοϚ). A rhodolith could be monospecific or multispecific, that is, if it consists of one or more than one coralline algal species. A rhodolith is developed around a nucleus of a rock, coral, shell, or any other element which serves as substrate for their development, but they also are found without any material in the center, usually consisting of a number of concentric thallus layers. Rhodoliths have a wide variety of growth forms ranging from fruticose to lumpy, and they are discoid or irregular shaped averaging approximately 6 cm in diameter (Foster, 2001). Rhodoliths are slow...
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Bibliography
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Riosmena-Rodriguez, R., Peña-Freire, V., Basso, D., Robinson, N.M., Hinojosa-Arango, G. (2016). Rhodolith/Maerl. In: Kennish, M.J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Estuaries. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_270
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8801-4_270
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