Preliminary Studies of Philippine Eucheuma Species (Rhodophyta) Part 1, Taxonomy and Ecology of Eucheuma arnoldii Weber-van Bosse

ABSTRACT: The fleshy, noncalcified, red alga Eucheuma arnoldii Weber-van Bosse is unique in its often close resemblance to the habits of certain types of branched coelenterate corals. The present study of the alga in three Philippine areas attempts to clarify its taxonomic relationships and presents ecological data dealing with its depth distributions, substrata preferences, standing crops, and community associations. A new variety, E. arnoldii var. alcyonida, is described, and the previously described taxa E. cupressoideum Weber-van Bosse and E. cupressoidett1n var. verticillata Yamada are placed in synonomy with E. arnoldii var. arnoldii. Possible lines of more detailed, future research on this species are suggested