The Marine Benthic Algae of South Australia John M

Swainsona 30: 33–40 (2018) © 2018 Board of the Botanic Gardens & State Herbarium (Adelaide, South Australia) The marine benthic algae of South Australia John M. Huisman a & Robert N. Baldock b a Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 Email: [email protected] b State Herbarium of South Australia, Department for Environment and Water, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, South Australia 5001 Email: [email protected] Abstract: The status of phycological (primarily taxonomic) studies concerning the marine benthic algae in South Australia is reviewed, including a brief history highlighting the contributions of H.B.S. Womersley that culminated in his six volume The marine benthic flora of southern Australia (1984– 2003). The impact of the advent of molecular methods is discussed, with examples of recent changes resulting from the adoption of these methods in taxonomic studies. A case is made for the continued relevance of herbaria and taxonomy, particularly in light of the on-line provision of identification guides and specimen data, the latter directly pertinent to biogeographical analyses and the surveillance of introduced and pest species. However, the recent decline in support for taxonomy will undoubtedly negatively impact on the education and mentoring of future phycologists, and ultimately the maintenance and quality of data. Keywords: algae, seaweeds, South Australia, taxonomy, botanical history, H.B.S. Womersley Introduction of South Australia will be specifically addressed in this paper. For a more general treatise we refer the reader Seaweeds play a part of the utmost importance in the to the excellent accounts by Womersley (1984), Ducker scheme of Nature, and incidentally may be of great (1979, 1981a, b, c, 1988) and Cowan & Ducker (2007 direct service to Man. and references therein). Lucas (1936: 13) Several figures loom particularly large in the history of Seaweeds, or marine benthic algae in the more phycological studies in South Australia, although one formal sense, which excludes sea grasses, are a major never actually set foot in the State. The first was Baron component of the Australian coastal biota and play an Ferdinand von Mueller, who lived in Adelaide for important role in near-shore ecology, as they provide four years (late 1847–1852) and collected numerous habitat, food, and substratum stabilization. Australia, in algae from the Lefevre Peninsula, Holdfast Bay, particular the temperate southern coast, is well-known and Encounter Bay, with other collectors providing as a global hotspot of seaweed diversity, with a large specimens from Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln. number of species recorded in a broad range of higher These collections were sent to and described by several taxa and a particularly high percentage of endemic taxa. European phycologists, primarily Sonder (1853), and (Phillips 2001; Kerswell 2006; Hommersand 2007). records based on Mueller collections made up the bulk of those recorded for South Australia in a subsequent compendium of all known Australian algae (Harvey History 1858–1863). The number of Algae dispersed along the Australian William Henry Harvey was an Irish phycologist who coast may perhaps be estimated at nearly 1000: the visited Australia in 1854–1855, arriving in Western number actually known is about 800. Australia where he made collections from the Fremantle Harvey (1858: vii) region and the south-west coast, before moving to Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. Harvey The early history of phycological studies in Australia has was a fervent collector, amassing a staggering 20,000 been reviewed by several authors and only those major specimens during his 18 months in Australia. Womersley contributions that advanced knowledge of the seaweeds (1984) calculated that on many days he must have Published online: 7 Nov. 2018 • flora.sa.gov.au/swainsona ISSN 2206-1649 (Print) • ISSN 2206-1657 (Online) J.M. Huisman & R.N. Baldock Swainsona 30 (2018) collected and prepared well over 100 specimens and Catalogue’ listing all Australian species, included the Harvey reported from King George Sound “In one day species described by Sonder based on Mueller’s South I collected and preserved 700 specimens, some being Australian collections, but acknowledged that they new kinds” (Anonymous 1869). Harvey subsequently “have not come into my hands, and several of the described his collections (and those of others) in several species named by Sonder remain unknown to me” publications, but undoubtedly his greatest contribution (Harvey 1863). to Australian phycology is his five volume Phycologia Australica (1858–1863), wherein 300 species of algae Subsequent additions to the South Australian algal flora were depicted in detailed colour lithographs (engraved were made by Reinbold (1897, 1898, 1899), who was by Harvey) (see Fig. 1). While Harvey did not visit sent specimens collected from Lacepede and Guichen South Australia, he did receive specimens from local Bay by Dr A. Engelhardt, and from Investigator Strait collectors, primarily David Curdie and Clara Wehl by Miss Nellie Davey. Jessie Hussey sent collections (Mueller’s sister). Harvey (1863), in his ‘Synoptic from Port Elliot to J. Agardh, some of which were Fig. 1. Inkyuleea ballioides (Sonder) H.-G.Choi, Kraft & G.W.Saunders. The species was first described as Callithamnion ballioides by Sonder (1853) from collections by Ferdinand von Mueller from Guichen Bay, near Robe (S.A.). A The species as depicted in Harvey (1858: pl. XXXVI), as Ballia robertiana Harv.; B Line-drawing in Womersley & Wollaston (1998: 155); C Microscopic image, specimen stained with aniline blue (photo: R.N. Baldock). 34 Swainsona 30 (2018) The marine benthic algae of South Australia described as new genera and species (Agardh 1897, and seagrasses, the second (1987) the brown algae, 1901). The first attempts at an algal flora just for South then followed four volumes dedicated to the red algae Australia did not appear until sometime later, after (1994, 1996, 1998, 2003). Final species tallies were an extended fallow period where very little progress presented in the last volume (2003: 4): “Chlorophyta was made. Seaweeds of South Australia comprised two 123 (plus 3 unrecorded in Part I), Phaeophyta 231 volumes, the first by Lucas (1936) describing the green (plus 6–8 unrecorded in Part II) and Vaucheria 5 and algae, the second by Lucas & Perrin (1947) describing Rhodophyta 778 (plus about 40 unrecorded), giving the red algae. As noted by Womersley (1984: 36) the a total of 1137 recorded species and about 50 still to latter, completed after Lucas’s death, contained little be described”. The southern Australian algal flora then original work and relied heavily on reproductions of clearly exceeded Harvey’s prediction for the entire Harvey’s plates from Phycologia Australica. However, it continent. The Womersley Flora is justly regarded as was readily available, it included English descriptions a pinnacle of alpha taxonomy and will undoubtedly and keys, as well as figures, and was most likely the first remain the primary source of taxonomic knowledge resource consulted by Australian phycologists leading for decades. The algal diversity of very few regions up to the latter part of the 20th century. worldwide is as well documented as that of southern Australia. As noted by Kraft (2011), in a tribute As with most under-appreciated groups, understanding to Professor Womersley, “In the over 60 years of his of the taxonomy of the marine benthic algae has active research, he and his students have elevated the progressed sporadically, with periods of elevated activity broad coastal expanse of southern Australia from a almost entirely due to the contributions of individuals virtual terra incognita of enormous algal biodiversity or small groups of dedicated taxonomists. In many to the status of being among the best taxonomically respects South Australia has been blessed, as the State understood stretches of richly endowed coastline in the not only supports an extremely diverse macroalgal flora, world.” but additionally several dedicated taxonomists that have spent the major parts of their lifetimes endeavouring to Given these plaudits, one might reasonably conclude comprehensively describe this flora. ‘job done’ and move on. However, as was regularly acknowledged by Womersley, that is certainly not the One person must be singled out, Professor H.B.S. case. Many groups require further study, particularly (Bryan) Womersley (1922–2011) of The University of in the red algae. When he passed away, Womersley still Adelaide and the State Herbarium of South Australia. had 6 green, 13 brown and 44 red algae on his list of Professor Womersley (see Fig. 2), initially an ecologist, ‘things to do’. realized quite early how little was known about the southern Australian marine flora and from that moment made it his life’s work to remedy this lack of The molecular revolution knowledge. Aided by several co-workers and students, many of whom went on to equally highly productive Seaweeds are often morphologically relatively simple taxonomic careers (Gerry Kraft, Bill Woelkerling, organisms and convergent evolution of thallus Murray Parsons), Womersley’s studies culminated in forms, plus morphological plasticity, has resulted in a series of six books under the general banner of The often considerable difficulty in identification and marine benthic flora of southern Australia. The first of classification. As such, the group is well-suited to the these (Womersley 1984) described the green algae use of molecular methods in assessing relationships and the application of correct names. For southern Australia, the next major undertaking will be the evaluation and refinement of Womersley’s taxonomic concepts based on DNA sequence analyses. This was initiated by Carlos (Fred) Gurgel during his tenure at the State Herbarium of South Australia (2008–2013) and resulted in several taxonomic revisions (e.g. Sun et al. 2012; Belton et al. 2014; Dixon et al. 2014; Schmidt 2016), but the process is far from complete.

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