View source for Udotea

{{Short description|Genus of algae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Udotea flabellum (mermaid's fan alga) Bahamas.jpg
| image_caption = ''Udotea flabellum'' (mermaid's fan alga), [[San Salvador Island]], Bahamas
| taxon = Udotea
| authority = J.V. Lamouroux, 1812
| type_species = ''[[Udotea flabellata]]''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ref = <ref name="Algaebase">{{cite web | url = http://www.algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=8213 | publisher = AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway | access-date = 2007-09-24 | title = Genus: ''Udotea'' taxonomy browser |author1=Guiry, M.D.  |author2=Guiry, G.M.  |name-list-style=amp | year = 2007 }}</ref>
| subdivision =
* ''[[Udotea abbottiorum|U. abbottiorum]]''
* ''[[Udotea argentea|U. argentea]]''
* ''[[Udotea caribaea|U. caribaea]]''
* ''[[Udotea conglutinata|U. conglutinata]]''
* ''[[Udotea cyathiformis|U. cyathiformis]]''
* ''[[Udotea dixonii|U. dixonii]]''
* ''[[Udotea dotyi|U. dotyi]]''
* ''[[Udotea fibrosa|U. fibrosa]]''
* ''[[Udotea flabellum|U. flabellum]]''
* ''[[Udotea fragilifolia|U. fragilifolia]]''
* ''[[Udotea geppiorum|U. geppiorum]]''
* ''[[Udotea glaucescens|U. glaucescens]]''
* ''[[Udotea goreaui|U. goreaui]]''
* ''[[Udotea halimeda|U. halimeda]]''
* ''[[Udotea indica|U. indica]]''
* ''[[Udotea kuetzingii|U. kuetzingii]]''
* ''[[Udotea looensis|U. looensis]]''
* ''[[Udotea luna|U. luna]]''
* ''[[Udotea norrisii|U. norrisii]]''
* ''[[Udotea occidentalis|U. occidentalis]]''
* ''[[Udotea orientalis|U. orientalis]]''
* ''[[Udotea palmetta|U. palmetta]]''
* ''[[Udotea papillosa|U. papillosa]]''
* ''[[Udotea reniformiis|U. reniformiis]]''
* ''[[Udotea spinulosa|U. spinulosa]]''
* ''[[Udotea tenax|U. tenax]]''
* ''[[Udotea tenuifolia|U. tenuifolia]]''
* ''[[Udotea unistratea|U. unistratea]]''
* ''[[Udotea velutina|U. velutina]]''
* ''[[Udotea verticillosa|U. verticillosa]]''
* ''[[Udotea wilsonii|U. wilsonii]]''
* ''[[Udotea xishaensis|U. xishaensis]]''
* ''[[Udotea yamadae|U. yamadae]]''
}}
'''''Udotea''''' is a [[genus]] of green algae in the family [[Udoteaceae]].<ref name="Algaebase"/>
== Taxonomy and Nomenclature ==
Udoteaceae are generally described based on vegetative characters of fully-developed thalli''<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Kooistra|first=Wiebe H. C. F.|date=2002-09-01|title=Molecular phylogenies of Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) reveal nonmonophyly for Udotea, Penicillus and Chlorodesmis|url=https://doi.org/10.2216/i0031-8884-41-5-453.1|journal=Phycologia|volume=41|issue=5|pages=453–462|doi=10.2216/i0031-8884-41-5-453.1|s2cid=37060082 |issn=0031-8884}}</ref>''. Most species of ''Udotea'' tend to have blades that are single or multiple layers with branching siphons attaching to adjacent siphons. In some species, a characteristic similar to Udoteacean genera are observed such as small protuberances or attachments on the sides of the blades.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Littler|first1=D. S.|last2=Littler|first2=M. M.|date=1990-06-01|title=Systematics of Udotea species (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) in the tropical western Atlantic|url=https://doi.org/10.2216/i0031-8884-29-2-206.1|journal=Phycologia|volume=29|issue=2|pages=206–252|doi=10.2216/i0031-8884-29-2-206.1|issn=0031-8884}}</ref>
An issue on monophyly may arise among ''Udotean'' species as some exhibit similar blade characteristics of other genera such as ''Flabellia'' and ''Halimeda''. In some, blades lacking cortex, appearing as a brush may resemble ''Rhipocephalus, Rhipidosiphon, Rhipiliopsis,'' or ''Tydemania.<ref name=":1"/>''
== Morphology ==
The Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) consists of multinucleated green macroalgae found in tropical regions. ''Udotea'' is described to have an erect thalli that is coenocytic with three main parts: an uncalcified rhizoid that serves as an anchor to different substrates (e.g. rock, sand, mud); an uncalcified upright stalk with a cortex, also known as its stipe; and a fan-shaped calcified thalli.<ref name=":1"/> Stalks are composed of siphons positioned lengthwise, with appendages located near the sides forming a cortex. Lateral appendages are siphons located on the blade, which are either simple or complex in nature.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last1=ACOSTA-CALDERON|first1=JULIO ADULFO|last2=HERNÁNDEZ-RODRÍGUEZ|first2=CÉSAR|last3=MENDOZA-GONZÁLEZ|first3=ÁNGELA CATALINA|last4=MATEO-CID|first4=LUZ ELENA|date=2018-03-27|title=Diversity and distribution of Udotea genus J.V. Lamouroux (Chlorophyta, Udoteaceae) in the Yucatan peninsula littoral, Mexico|journal=Phytotaxa|volume=345|issue=3|pages=179|doi=10.11646/phytotaxa.345.3.1|s2cid=90385754 |issn=1179-3163|doi-access=free}}</ref>
Siphon morphology typically relies on the thallus location and ''Udotea'' life-history stage. Mature thalli are often characterized to have simple to complex filaments that are siphonaceous.<ref name=":3"/>
== Distribution ==
Siphonous green macroalgae belonging to Bryopsidales are widely distributed in most tropical regions. In the Western Atlantic Ocean, 21 ''Udotea'' species were  noted by Littler & Littler in 1990.<ref name=":2"/> In 2017, Wynne subsequently identified 23 infrageneric taxa in the Western Atlantic, both in tropical and subtropical regions.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wynne|first=Michael J.|date=2011-01-31|title=A checklist of benthic marine algae of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic|url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/b86-298|journal=Canadian Journal of Botany|volume=64 |issue=10 |pages=2239–2281 |language=en|doi=10.1139/b86-298}}</ref> ''Udotea'' species are commonly found near the shore in tropical regions inhabiting seagrass areas up to 50 m in depth and grows from 8 – 20&nbsp;cm in length.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Sabry|first1=Omar M. M.|last2=Goeger|first2=Douglas E.|last3=Gerwick|first3=William H.|date=2017-06-03|title=Bioactive new metabolites from the green alga Udotea orientalis growing on the Gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia rigida|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2016.1236096|journal=Natural Product Research|volume=31|issue=11|pages=1245–1250|doi=10.1080/14786419.2016.1236096|issn=1478-6419|pmc=5553317|pmid=27653761}}</ref>
== Ecology ==
''Udotea'' have rhizoids serving as an anchor in attaching to substrate, mostly in the sediment while previous studies have also shown that ''Udotea'' are also involved in the formation of seagrasses.<ref name=":2"/><ref name=":3"/> Upon its death, the sediment benefits through its calcified thalli, producing sand, organic compounds, contributing to reef building and improving the sediment as it decomposes.<ref name=":3"/><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Sauvage|first1=Thomas|last2=Ballantine|first2=David L.|last3=Peyton|first3=Kimberly A.|last4=Wade|first4=Rachael M.|last5=Sherwood|first5=Alison R.|last6=Keeley|first6=Sterling|last7=Smith|first7=Celia|date=2020-04-02|title=Molecular confirmation and morphological reassessment of Udotea geppiorum (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) with ecological observations of mesophotic meadows in the Main Hawaiian Islands|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09670262.2019.1668061|journal=European Journal of Phycology|volume=55|issue=2|pages=186–196|doi=10.1080/09670262.2019.1668061|s2cid=208582440 |issn=0967-0262}}</ref>
Apart from being primary producers, ''Udotea'' can be found co-inhabit with other marine macroalga from Udoteaceae wherein their presence are useful in seeking refuge, providing food, and calcium carbonate.<ref name=":4"/>
== Life History ==
Fertile thalli can easily be distinguished within the genera, especially among species with specialized gametangia, but most are identified through thalli color changes (e.g. ''U. flabellum''). Male plants turn green while females are grey in thallus color. ''Udotea'' thalli often remain in the marine environment longer than other genera after reproduction, sometimes with its blade intact, for months (e.g. ''U. flabellum'').<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last1=Clifton|first1=Kenneth E.|last2=Clifton|first2=Lisa M.|date=1999|title=The Phenology of Sexual Reproduction by Green Algae (bryopsidales) on Caribbean Coral Reefs|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.3510024.x|journal=Journal of Phycology|language=en|volume=35|issue=1|pages=24–34|doi=10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.3510024.x|s2cid=83704320 |issn=1529-8817}}</ref>
Gametangia is located in the terminal blade in ''Udotea''. For ''U. flabellum'', the release of its gametes is quick and noticeable. Both plant sexes are described to have biflagellated gametes, macro and micro similar to ''Halimeda'' and ''Caulerpa''. Other species of ''Udotea'' produce gametes that are sphere-shaped, resembling the gametes of ''Penicillus'' and ''Rhipocephalus.<ref name=":5"/>''
== Cultivation and Exploitation ==
Currently, ''Udotea'' is not being cultivated for aquaculture research.
== Chemical Composition ==
Some of the extracts isolated from ''Udotea'' are Mannose and Glucose, identified as biocompounds that are SP-rich.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Arata|first1=Paula X.|last2=Quintana|first2=Irene|last3=Canelón|first3=Dilsia J.|last4=Vera|first4=Beatriz E.|last5=Compagnone|first5=Reinaldo S.|last6=Ciancia|first6=Marina|date=2015-05-20|title=Chemical structure and anticoagulant activity of highly pyruvylated sulfated galactans from tropical green seaweeds of the order Bryopsidales|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861714010352|journal=Carbohydrate Polymers|language=en|volume=122|pages=376–386|doi=10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.10.030|pmid=25817682 |issn=0144-8617|hdl=11336/17787|hdl-access=free}}</ref> In a recent study, anti-coagulant sulfated polysaccharide-rich extracts were extracted from ''Udotea flabellum,'' specifically, sulfated homogalactans, F-I and F-II.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mendes Marques|first1=Maxsuell Lucas|last2=Presa|first2=Fernando Bastos|last3=Viana|first3=Rony Lucas Silva|last4=Costa|first4=Mariana Santana Santos Pereira|last5=Amorim|first5=Monica Oliveira Rocha|last6=Bellan|first6=Daniel Lima|last7=Alves|first7=Monique Gabriela Chagas Faustino|last8=Costa|first8=Leandro Silva|last9=Trindade|first9=Edvaldo Silva|last10=Rocha|first10=Hugo Alexandre Oliveira|date=2018-12-21|title=Anti-Thrombin, Anti-Adhesive, Anti-Migratory, and Anti-Proliferative Activities of Sulfated Galactans from the Tropical Green Seaweed, Udotea flabellum|journal=Marine Drugs|volume=17|issue=1|pages=E5|doi=10.3390/md17010005|issn=1660-3397|pmc=6356399|pmid=30577590|doi-access=free }}</ref> Anticoagulant and anti-proliferative properties of these compounds were found to be potent in the species, which may have the potential for future research pertaining on its effects.
== Utilization and Management ==
Various species of ''Udotea'' have been found to produce numerous bioactive compounds, specifically diterpenesm including udoteal which functions as a deterrent against an herbivorous fish ''Eupomacentrus leucostictus'' and udoteal B which has an antibiotic activity, limiting cell division on sea urchin egg upon fertilization and exhibits harmful effects on damselfish. In addition, lectins petiodial, and udoteafuran have been isolated in some species, which have several biological properties causing toxicity in some fish, as deterrent, and antimicrobial, antiviral, anticoagulant and antitumor potential.<ref name=":0"/>
==References==
{{Reflist|1}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2707514}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Bryopsidales genera]]
[[Category:Udoteaceae]]