Padina pavonica
Padina pavonica (L.) Thivy
Padina pavonia (L.) Gaillon – err. typogr.; Padina pavonia J.V. Lamoroux
Ochrophyta: Dictyotaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(i,ii,iii); C1].
Morphology and biology. Thallus is striking, peculiarly fan-shaped, in one piece or dissected in several lobes, up to 20 cm in height. It narrows near the base, but then enlarges again in an attaching ‘cushion’ which carries several rhizoids. Thallus is bright brown but often looks whitish due to calcareous incrustation; bears concentric lines. Asexual reproduction is by tetraspores, sexual reproduction is oogamous; the alga is monoecious and has isomorphic changes of generations.
Habitats and populations. On sands, rarely as an epilith in the sublittoral. Not confirmed during the last years.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea Coast (Southern – limited only in Sozopol-Tsarevo subregion of the Sozopol region).
General distribution. Europe, Atlantic Islands, C and S America, Caribbean Islands, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Africa.
Threats. Anthropogenic pollution of the Black Sea and direct collection by tourists.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the “Red List of Bulgarian algae. I. Macroalgae”. Submitted proposal to the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water for declaration of the species as protected.
Conservation measures needed. Decrease of anthropogenic pollution of the Black Sea; environmental education of the population.
References. Petkoff 1943; Dimitrova 1969; Kalugina-Gutnik 1975; Vodenicharov et al. 1993; Draganov & Stoyneva 1994; Dimitrova-Konaklieva 2000; Temniskova et al. 2008.
Authors: Maya Stoyneva & Dobrina Temniskova
