First records of Ulvella spongophila (Ulvophyceae: Ulvellaceae) for the Palaearctic region: the discovery of four populations in SW Iberian Peninsula.

Abstract

First records of Ulvella spongophila (Ulvophyceae: Ulvellaceae) for the Palaearctic region in SW Iberian Peninsula.

During extensive Spanish river macrophyte and invertebrate surveys, the freshwater chlorophyte Ulvella spongophila was detected growing inside the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis attached to stones. This finding is relevant from the phycological, biogeographical and ecological point of view, being the second world record of the species after the one single known locality (Lake Manindjau, Sumatra, Malaysia) from where the species was collected and described around 130 years ago. The species was collected at summer base-flow conditions in four Mediterranean temporary/seasonal streams in the years 2018 and 2019. In this work, new information on the species morphological characteristics and ecological preferences in the Iberian Peninsula are presented. The adscription of the observed specimens to the species, some biogeographical aspects of the finding, certain biological facets of the sponge-algal association, as well as its conservation status are also discussed.