Morphological and reproductive phenology of Cystoseira foeniculacea f. tenuiramosa (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) from the lagoon of Strunjan (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic)

Abstract

        The results of a study on morphological features and reproductive phenology of the brown alga Cystoseira foeniculacea f. tenuiramosa (Ercegović) A. Gómez Garreta, M.C. Barceló, M.A. Ribera & J. Rull Lluch from the marine lagoon of Strunjan (Gulf of Trieste), are reported. Based on monthly samplings carried out during one year period, it was observed that this species shows considerable seasonal morphological variations. The Strunjan marine lagoon appears to be the only location of the Slovenian coast where population of this taxon occur. Based on the high associated biodiversity, we propose the inclusion of this population in the conservation management plans in the area.