Gelidiales (rhodophyta) in the Canary islandsprevious studies and future perspectives

Abstract

Gelidiales is a red algae order which belongs to the class Florideophyceae and comprises four genetically recognized families: Gelidiaceae, Gelidiellaceae, Pterocladiaceae and Orthogonacladiaceae. It is a copious order characterized in the Canary Islands by 16 species, some of which are endemic and canopy-forming with populations in unforeseen decline over the last four decades. The aim of this article is to examine all previous studies into the Gelidiales in the Canary Islands, in order to synthesize and demonstrate the relevance of these species to the benthic marine communities of the archipelago. This review also identifies those knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to predict future changes in the marine ecosystems and suggest conservation and/or recovery plans for their populations