# Udoteaceae > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Udoteaceae > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Udoteaceae.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udoteaceae > Source revision: 1354736146 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Family of algae}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Turtle weed, Chlorodesmis fastigiata, at 6 meters depth.jpg | image_caption = ''[Chlorodesmis fastigiata](/source/Chlorodesmis_fastigiata)'' | taxon = Udoteaceae | authority = J. Agardh, 1887 | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision_ref = {{cite web | url = http://www.algaebase.org/browse/taxonomy/?id=5129 | publisher = AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway | access-date = 2021-02-03 | title = Family: Udoteaceae taxonomy browser |author1=Guiry, M.D. |author2=Guiry, G.M. |name-list-style=amp | year = 2021 }} | subdivision = * ''[Boodleopsis](/source/Boodleopsis)'' * ''[Botryodesmis](/source/Botryodesmis)'' * ''[Callipsygma](/source/Callipsygma)'' * ''[Chlorodesmis](/source/Chlorodesmis)'' * ''[Chloroplegma](/source/Chloroplegma)'' * ''[Coralliodendron](/source/Coralliodendron)'' * ''[Penicillus](/source/Penicillus_(alga))'' * ''[Poropsis](/source/Poropsis)'' * ''[Pseudochlorodesmis](/source/Pseudochlorodesmis)'' * ''[Pseudopenicillus](/source/Pseudopenicillus)'' * ''[Rhipidosiphon](/source/Rhipidosiphon)'' * ''[Rhipiliella](/source/Rhipiliella)'' * ''[Rhipocephalus](/source/Rhipocephalus)'' * ''[Siphonogramen](/source/Siphonogramen)'' * ''[Tydemania](/source/Tydemania_(alga))'' * ''[Udotea](/source/Udotea)'' }} '''Udoteaceae''' is a [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) of [green algae](/source/green_algae), in the [order](/source/order_(biology)) [Bryopsidales](/source/Bryopsidales). == Description == Udoteaceae is a family of green algae that belongs to the order [Bryopsidales](/source/Bryopsidales). Udoteaceae are most abundant in [reef ecosystems](/source/Reef) as it serves an important ecological role as a primary producer, contributor to carbonate fluxes, and it serves as protection or food for other marine organisms.{{Cite journal |last1=Lagourgue |first1=Laura |last2=Puillandre |first2=Nicholas |last3=Payri |first3=Claude E. |date=October 2018 |title=Exploring the Udoteaceae diversity (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) in the Caribbean region based on molecular and morphological data |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790317309430 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=127 |pages=758–760 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.023 |pmid=29913312 |s2cid=49301214 |via=Science Direct}}{{Cite journal |last1=Lagourgue |first1=Laura |last2=Payri |first2=Claude E. |title=Large-scale diversity reassessment, evolutionary history, and taxonomic revision of the green macroalgae family Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) |url=https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00665/77719/79818.pdf |journal=Journal of Systematics and Evolution |year=2022 |volume=60 |pages=101–127 |doi=10.1111/jse.12716 |s2cid=234355449 |via=Wiley Online Library}} Udoteaceae is the most morphologically complex [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) belonging to the order [Bryopsidales](/source/Bryopsidales). Along with its high morphological complexity, Udoteaceae also has high species diversity. There are fourteen [genera](/source/Genus), eight extant, belonging to the family Udoteaceae, however only four are officially accepted. There are twenty-four species belonging to these genera, however because genetic information on Udoteaceae is limited, these species are classified primarily from morphological features. Udoteaceae's structure is siphonous and composed of a giant, [multinucleate](/source/multinucleate) tubular cell. Udoteaceae contains taxa that are either calcified or non-calcified. The species range from simple siphonous filaments to complex multiaxial structures. Genera from Udoteaceae include tufts of uncalcified and free filaments, a brush-like calcified [thallus](/source/thallus), or calcareous compact fan-shaped blades. == Reproduction == Both [sexual](/source/Sexual_reproduction) and [asexual](/source/Asexual_reproduction) reproduction is observed under [green algae](/source/green_algae) ([Chlorophyta](/source/Chlorophyta)). However, [Bryopsidales](/source/Bryopsidales), the order Udoteaceae belongs to, sexual reproduction is most common.{{Cite journal |last=Sekimoto. |first=Hiroyuki |date=10 February 2017 |title=Sexual reproduction and sex determination in green algae |url= |journal=Journal of Plant Research |volume=130 |issue=3 |pages=423–431 |doi=10.1007/s10265-017-0908-6 |pmid=28188480 |bibcode=2017JPlR..130..423S |s2cid=4573837 }} Sexual reproduction utilizes [meiosis](/source/meiosis), which will produce gametes, germ cells from two parents. The sperm cells and the egg cells will fuse, making a zygote. In most multicellular green algae, the sperm cells are small and motile, and the egg cells are large and immotile. However, in simple multicellular or unicellular algae, germ cells are typically isogamous, which means the germ cells from both parents are the same size. [Ulvophyceae](/source/Ulvophyceae), the class Udoteaceae belongs to, contains both multicellular and multinucleated organisms. However, [Bryopsidales](/source/Bryopsidales), the order for Udoteaceae, multinucleated organisms, so it can be assumed that Udoteaceae is as well.{{Cite journal |last=Umen |first=James G. |date=November 2014 |title=Green Algae and the Origins of Multicellularity in the Plant Kingdom |journal=Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology |volume=6 |issue=11 |page=11 |doi=10.1101/cshperspect.a016170 |pmid=25324214 |pmc=4413236 }} The time it takes for the gametes to be fertilized after being released varies greatly among the [green algae](/source/green_algae) ([Chlorophyta](/source/Chlorophyta)). The [genera](/source/Genus) [Udotea](/source/Udotea), which belongs to the family Udoteaceae, can take up to ninety-six hours after the gametes are released before being fertilized.{{Cite journal |last1=Clifton |first1=Kenneth E. |last2=Clifton |first2=Lisa M. |date=2 September 2002 |title=The Phenology of Sexual Reproduction by Green Algae (Bryospidales) on Caribbean Coral Reefs |url= |journal=Journal of Phycology |volume=35 |pages=24–34 |doi=10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.3510024.x |s2cid=83704320 }} == Origin == Udoteaceae's origin dates back about 216 mya (million years ago), which would be around the [Late Triassic](/source/Late_Triassic) period. Most of the [genera](/source/genera) from Udoteaceae originated between 66 and 23 mya (Paleogene period).{{Cite journal |last1=Lagourgue |first1=Laura |last2=Leliaert |first2=Frederik |last3=Payri |first3=Claude E. |date=April 2022 |title=Historical biogeographical analysis of the Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) elucidates origins of high species diversity in the Central Indo-Pacific, Western Indian Ocean and Greater Caribbean regions |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=169 |article-number=107412 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107412 |pmid=35031470 |doi-access=free }} Fossil evidence of Udoteaceae suggests that the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) originated from the western [Tethys Sea](/source/Tethys_Ocean). The Tethys Sea was present until 66 mya, and it was located between the two continents Gondwana and Laurasia. The center of diversity shifted from the Western Tethys to the [Central Indo-Pacific](/source/Central_Indo-Pacific) once the [archipelago](/source/archipelago)s were formed. Three centers of diversity have been identified for Udoteaceae: The Central Indo-Pacific, the Western Indian Ocean, and the Greater Caribbean region. The Central-Indo Pacific is considered the center of origin, the Western Indian Ocean is considered the center of origin and accumulation, and finally the Greater Caribbean is considered the more recent center of origin. == Distribution == Udoteaceae are widespread geographically, its species are mostly found in [tropical](/source/Tropics) and [subtropical](/source/Subtropics) regions. They also can be found in temperate regions of the [Atlantic](/source/Atlantic_Ocean), [Pacific](/source/Pacific_Ocean), and [Indian](/source/Indian_Ocean) Oceans, as well as in the [Red](/source/Red_Sea) and [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) seas. They are abundant in reef ecosystems and serve an important ecological role. Udoteaceae play a major part in the ecological system as a primary producer and as a contributor to carbonate fluxes. They are also important in the food chain as they are used for food by organisms, and they can be used by smaller organisms for hiding from predators. As they are primary producers, access to light is important for Udoteaceae, so they will be more common in shallow and clearer waters. ==References== {{Commons category|Udoteaceae}} {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3004046}} {{Authority control}} Category:Udoteaceae Category:Ulvophyceae families --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Udoteaceae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udoteaceae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udoteaceae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.