BIOTIC Species Information for Delesseria sanguinea
Researched byDr Harvey Tyler-Walters Data supplied byMarLIN
Refereed byDr Joanna Jones
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive typeOogamous
Gonochoristic
 Developmental mechanismSpores (sexual / asexual)
Reproductive SeasonSee additional information Reproductive LocationInsufficient information
Reproductive frequencyAnnual episodic Regeneration potential No
Life span6-10 years Age at reproductive maturityInsufficient information
Generation timeInsufficient information FecundityInsufficient information
Egg/propagule sizeInsufficient information Fertilization type
Larvae/Juveniles
Larval/Juvenile dispersal potentialInsufficient information Larval settlement periodNot relevant
Duration of larval stageNot relevant   
Reproduction Preferences Additional InformationDickinson (1963) suggested a life span of 5-6 years but Kain (1984) estimated that 1 in 20 specimens may attain 9 - 16 years of age. All reproductive structures in Delesseria sanguinea are born on the mibribs. The typical life cycle of members of the Ceramiales is summarised as follows:
  • Male haploid gametophytes release male gametes (spermatia) from spermatangia on male bladelets.
  • Female haploid gametophytes produce the female gamete, the carpogonium on female bladelets
  • After fusion (fertilization) the carposporophyte develops, enclosed in a stalked cystocarp and releases diploid carpospores.
  • Carpospores develop into the tetrasporophyte, a diploid sporophyte stage.
  • The sporophyte develops tetrasporangia in which haploid tetraspores are formed by meiosis.
  • The tetraspores develop into gametophytes.
The gametophyte and sporophyte stages in the order Ceramiales are isomorphic (Bold & Wynne, 1978). The onset of sexual reproduction is stimulated by daylength, Delesseria sanguinea is a short-day plant sensitive to a night-break (Kain, 1991; Kain, 1996]. The male bladelets and spermatangia develop between September - December in the Isle of Man. (Kain, 1993). Cystocarps and tetrasporangia appear from December to March and the carpospores and tetraspores are first released in December. Female carpogonia develop 2-3 months before the carposporophytes (c. September). Tetrasporangia form in response to shorter day length (<10h days) than male and female gametangia (Kain, 1996). In culture male bladelets were stimulated by 11-12h days, spermatangia taking 4 weeks to develop. Spermatangia were inhibited by increased day length in culture. Kain (1987) suggested that the southern limit of Delesseria sanguinea may be determined by winter temperatures. Studies in Roscoff and Helgoland showed similar seasonality; new blades formed in April - June at Roscoff, males plants in October - December, cystocarps and tetrasporangia in October - December, the last cystocarps found in April. Juvenile recruitment occurred between February and April/June in both Roscoff and Helgoland (Molenaar & Breeman, 1997).
Reproduction References Maggs & Hommersand, 1993, Lüning, 1990, Dickinson, 1963, Bold & Wynne, 1978, Kain, 1982, Kain, 1987, Kain, 1991, Molenaar & Breeman, 1997, Norton, 1992, Kain, 1996, Kain & Bates, 1993,
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