description Lithothamnion corallioides Overview
Lithothamnion corallioides is a calcified red alga associated with the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. It grows as a crust or as free-living calcareous fragments and is one of the species that can form maerl beds, often alongside Phymatolithon calcareum. Because its tissues contain substantial calcium carbonate, deposits of this alga have historically been collected and used as a calcareous soil amendment.
help Lithothamnion corallioides FAQ
What is Lithothamnion corallioides?
Lithothamnion corallioides is a calcified red alga found in parts of the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean. Its hard, calcium-carbonate structure allows it to form loose maerl fragments or crust-like growths.
What are maerl beds, and does Lithothamnion corallioides form them?
Maerl beds are seabed habitats made from free-living calcareous red-algal branches. Lithothamnion corallioides is one of the species associated with these beds, often alongside Phymatolithon calcareum.
Is Lithothamnion corallioides a seaweed or a coral?
It is a red alga, not an animal coral. It looks rock-like because its tissues become heavily calcified, which is also why maerl fragments can persist on the seabed.
Why are Lithothamnion corallioides habitats important?
Maerl beds create complex spaces on the seabed that can support other marine organisms. Their slow growth and sensitivity to disturbance make them habitats of conservation concern in several coastal regions.
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Similar to Lithothamnion corallioides
compare_arrows Compare: Phymatolithon calcareum See all arrow_forward
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