A new species of red algae discovered in Iceland

Schizymenia jonssonii growing in the lower intertidal zone on the Reykjanes peninsula, SW Iceland.
Photo: Karl Gunnarsson.

Recently an unknown species of Rhodophyta or red algae was discovered in Iceland. The alga is bladelike and, when fully grown, about 35 cm long and 10 to 25 cm wide. It is relatively common in the lower littoral zone at the southwestern and western coast of Iceland, along the Northwest peninsula and has been found at one location at the colder north coast. The species was first found just before 1900 at the west coast but was misidentified and later proved to be a formerly unknown species with its closest relatives in the North Pacific. The alga has been named Schizymenia jonssonii to honour the memory of the Icelandic phycologist Sigurður Jónsson.

The eastern North Atlantic is probably the best studied ocean area in the world due to a long history of intensive scientific research in northern Europe. It was therefore a surprise that this relatively large and conspicuous species had not been identified before.

Molecular genetic studies showed that Schizymenia jonssonii has two different growth phases, a crustose phase and the blade phase that are likely to represent different stages in the life history of the species.

For further information on the new species click here.

Schizymenia jonssonii collected in Hvassahraun, Reykjanes peninsula, SW-Iceland. And a specimens of Schizymenia jonssonii collected by H. Jónsson at Öndverðarnes W-Iceland in 1897.Photo: Svanhildur Egilsdóttir.