Chorda filum

Chorda filum, commonly known as dead man's rope or sea lace among other names, is a species of brown algae in the genus Chorda. It is widespread in the temperate waters of the northern hemisphere. The species has numerous other common names related to its physical appearance. These include mermaid's tresses, cat's gut or sea-catgut, bootlace weed, sea-twine, and mermaid's fishing line.[2][3]

"Mermaid's tresses" redirects here. For Mermaid's hair, see Cladophora and Desmarestia.

Chorda filum
Chorda filum
Chorda filum among Cladophora glomerata on the slopes of Gullmarn fjord, Sweden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Chordaceae
Genus: Chorda
Species:
C. filum
Binomial name
Chorda filum
(L.) Stackhouse, 1797
Synonyms[1]

Description
Chorda filum

Chorda filum have typically long, unbranched and hollow rope-like brown fronds about 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter but can reach to lengths of 8 m (26 ft).[4] The holdfast is disc-shaped.[4] C. filum is found in sheltered marine and estuarine bodies of water at depths of up to 5 m (16 ft).[2][5] They are usually anchored to loose substrates like gravel and pebbles or other macroalgae and eelgrass. C. filum grow at an average of 17 cm (6.7 in) per month, with the spiral-shaped, often gas-inflated, termini of fronds being dead, but receiving replacement by growth from a sub-terminal meristem.[4] They are annuals and die during winter.[2][4] The fronds bear short colorless hairs in summer.[6]

Chorda filum is similar to Halosiphon tomentosus. However H. tomentosus is less common and is covered with long brown paraphyses or sterile hairs.[6]

Habitat

Chorda filum is to be found in very sheltered shores.[7] It may be common or abundant near low water and in the sublittoral to 25 m (82 ft) areas in mud and sand.[8][9]

Distribution

Chorda filum is found in temperate waters in the northern hemisphere, on the coasts of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans.[5] Within this, it is noted as being widespread and generally common around Ireland, Great Britain, the Shetland Isles, and the Isle of Man.[6][10]

References
  1. M.D. Guiry (2011). Guiry MD, Guiry GM (eds.). "Chorda filum (Linnaeus) Stackhouse, 1797". AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  2. Nicola White & Stefan Kraan. "BIOTIC Species Information for Chorda filum". MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network). Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  3. M.D. Guiry (2012). "Chorda filum (Linnaeus) Stackhouse". AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  4. Nicola White (2006). "Sea lace or Dead man's rope - Chorda filum". Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  5. Christiaan Hoek; David Mann; Martin Jahns (1995). Algae: An Introduction to Phycology. Cambridge University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780521316873.
  6. Bunker, F. StP. D, Maggs, C.A., Brodie, J.A., Bunker, A. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK
  7. Lewis, J.R. 1964 The Ecology of Rocky Shores. The English Universities Press Ltd, London
  8. Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum, Belfast ISBN 0-900761-28-8
  9. Morton, O. 2003 The marine macroalgae of County Donegal, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society No. 27
  10. Hardy,F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003 A Check-list and Atlas of Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society, ISBN 0-9527115-16
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