The unusual occurrence of green algal balls of Chaetomorpha linum on a beach in Sydney, Australia

Julia Cooke; Robert Lanfear; Alison Downing; Michael R. Gillings; Alistair G.B. Poore; Ian D. Goodwin; Liette S. Waldron; Aaron Phillips; Yola Metti; Matthew W. Bulbert

doi:10.1515/bot-2015-0061

The unusual occurrence of green algal balls of Chaetomorpha linum on a beach in Sydney, Australia

Julia Cooke^*, Robert Lanfear, Alison Downing, Michael R. Gillings, Alistair G.B. Poore, Ian D. Goodwin, Liette S. Waldron, Aaron Phillips, Yola Metti, Matthew W. Bulbert

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In spring 2014, thousands of green algal balls were washed up at Dee Why Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Reports of algal balls are uncommon in marine systems, and mass strandings on beaches are even more rare, sparking both public and scientific interest. We identified the algal masses as Chaetomorpha linum by using light microscopy and DNA sequencing. We characterize the size and composition of the balls from Dee Why Beach and compare them to previous records of marine algal balls. We describe the environmental conditions that could explain their appearance, given the ecophysiology of C. linum.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	401-407
Number of pages	7
Journal	Botanica Marina
Volume	58
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1515/bot-2015-0061
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2015
Externally published	Yes

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title = "The unusual occurrence of green algal balls of Chaetomorpha linum on a beach in Sydney, Australia",

abstract = "In spring 2014, thousands of green algal balls were washed up at Dee Why Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Reports of algal balls are uncommon in marine systems, and mass strandings on beaches are even more rare, sparking both public and scientific interest. We identified the algal masses as Chaetomorpha linum by using light microscopy and DNA sequencing. We characterize the size and composition of the balls from Dee Why Beach and compare them to previous records of marine algal balls. We describe the environmental conditions that could explain their appearance, given the ecophysiology of C. linum.",

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AU - Cooke, Julia

AU - Lanfear, Robert

AU - Downing, Alison

AU - Gillings, Michael R.

AU - Poore, Alistair G.B.

AU - Goodwin, Ian D.

AU - Waldron, Liette S.

AU - Phillips, Aaron

AU - Metti, Yola

AU - Bulbert, Matthew W.

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AB - In spring 2014, thousands of green algal balls were washed up at Dee Why Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Reports of algal balls are uncommon in marine systems, and mass strandings on beaches are even more rare, sparking both public and scientific interest. We identified the algal masses as Chaetomorpha linum by using light microscopy and DNA sequencing. We characterize the size and composition of the balls from Dee Why Beach and compare them to previous records of marine algal balls. We describe the environmental conditions that could explain their appearance, given the ecophysiology of C. linum.

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The unusual occurrence of green algal balls of Chaetomorpha linum on a beach in Sydney, Australia

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