MACOI - Portuguese Seaweeds Website

Bifurcaria
bifurcata R. Ross

Bifurcaria bifurcata
R. Ross
(detailed information)


Species Details
Class:	Phaeophyceae
Genus:	Bifurcaria Stackhouse
Species:	Bifurcaria bifurcata
Authority:	R. Ross
Description:	Perennial brown alga. Cylindrical fronds, unbranched near base then branched dichotomously but generally with different sizes which gives a typical zigzag aspect. Very dark when dry. Reproductive features at extremity of the fronds during spring. Up to 30 cm in length. Olive-yellow in colour, but much darker when dry. Holdfast expanded and knobbly. Frond cylindrical, unbranched near base then branching dichotomously. Elongate reproductive bodies present at ends of branches. Rounded air bladders sometimes present (Pereira, 2010).

Name History	Adjective (Latin), bifurcate
Biogeography	Temperate NE Atlantic (from W Ireland to Marocco).
Uses and compounds	Cytotoxic and antitumor activity - A linear cytotoxic diterpene bifurcadiol was isolated from the brown alga Bifurcaria bifurcata by Guardia et al. (1999) which exhibit cytotoxicity against cultured human tumor cell lines.
References	Braune, W. (2008). Meeresalgen. Ein Farbbildführer zu den verbreiteten benthischen Grün- Braun- und Rotalgen der Weltmeere. pp. [1]-596, 266 pls. Ruggell: A.R.G. Gantner Verlag. Cho, G.Y, Rousseau, F., Reviers, B. de & Boo, S.M. (2006). Phylogenetic relationships within the Fucales (Phaeophyceae) assessed by the photosystem I coding psaA sequences. Phycologia 45: 512-519. Delf, E.M. (1935). Liberation of oogonia in Bifurcaria and other members of the Fucaceae. New Phytologist 34: 245-259, 8 figs. Gallardo Garciá, T. (2001). Bifurcaria Stackh. In: Flora phycologica iberica Vol. 1 Fucales. (Gómez Garreta, A. Eds), pp. 91-93. Murcia: Universidad de Murcia. Loiseaux-de Goër, S. & Noailles, M.-C. (2008). Algues de Roscoff. pp. [1]-215, col. figs. Roscoff: Editions de la Station Biologique de Roscoff.

Habitat:	Epilithic in intertidal tide pools, occasionally exposed at low tide and extending into the shallow subtidal.
Common names:	English: Brown Tuning Fork Weed; Brown Forking Weed
Type information:	Type locality: “Prope St Ives in Cornubia” (St Ives, Cornwall, England) (Stackhouse 1809) Nomenclatural notes: John et al. (2004) cite the authority for this species as (Velley) R. Ross.

Specimens

( 68 record(s) available )

1 2 3 4

Type	Number	Species	Date	Coastal Station
(F)	14	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-10-09	Apúlia, Portugal
(H) (F)	52	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-10-09	A-Ver-o-Mar, Portugal
(H) (F)	77	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2001-03-11	Buarcos Bay, Portugal
(H)	271	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2001-10-06	Aguda, Portugal
(H)	272	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2000-08-07	Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal
(H)	366	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-08-18	S. Martinho do Porto, Portugal
(F)	434	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2002-08-09	Polvoeira (Nazaré), Portugal
(F)	454	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2003-03-22	Foz do Arelho, Portugal
(O)	870	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1994-03-08	S. Martinho do Porto, Portugal
(O)	884	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-08-18	S. Martinho do Porto, Portugal
(O)	907	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-10-09	A-Ver-o-Mar, Portugal
(O)	944	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-10-09	Apúlia, Portugal
(O)	969	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1999-10-09	Aguçadoura, Portugal
(O)	1062	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2001-03-11	Buarcos Bay, Portugal
(O)	1181	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2001-10-18	Buarcos Bay, Portugal
(O)	1223	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	1997-12-31	Ericeira, Portugal
(O)	1231	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2001-10-06	Aguda, Portugal
(O)	1319	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2000-08-07	Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal
(O)	1531	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2002-08-09	Polvoeira (Nazaré), Portugal
(O)	1558	Bifurcaria bifurcata R. Ross	2003-03-22	Foz do Arelho, Portugal