Best Fucales
Cystoseira barbata is a large, canopy-forming brown macroalga in the family Sargassaceae. It is native to the shallow subtidal zones of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The algae attach to rocky substrates using a holdfast and feature branched, bushy thalli with small air bladders that help...
Why this score?
Key Mediterranean and Black Sea canopy species, strong habitat value, affected by regional decline concerns.
Scoring methodology
Halidrys siliquosa, commonly known as sea oak, is a species of brown macroalgae primarily found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is easily identified by its branched fronds, which feature segmented, pod-like pneumatocysts that closely resemble seed pods. These air-fil...
Why this score?
Distinctive pod-like floats and subtidal habitat role, respected regional brown alga with modest wider profile.
Scoring methodology
Cladostephus spongiosus is a brown alga found in parts of the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Its branching axes carry dense whorls of short branchlets, giving the plant a characteristic bottle-brush or bristled appearance. It occurs on rocky marine surfaces, including intertidal habitats, and...
Why this score?
Common textured brown alga with identification value, modest ecological and cultural significance.
Scoring methodology
