Blidingia minima

{{Speciesbox

|image = Blidingia minima.jpg

|genus = Blidingia

|species = minima

|synonyms =

Enteromorpha minima Nägeli ex Kützing

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web|url=http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/guide/green8.html |title=Blidingia minima (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin var. minima|publisher=Center for Phycological Documentation|website=University Herbarium|place=Berkeley|access-date= June 7, 2013}}

}}

Blidingia minima is a species of seaweed in the Kornmanniaceae family. It was described by Johann Kylin in 1947.

Description

The species is {{convert|1|-|10|cm}} long by {{convert|1|-|2|mm}} wide and is light green in colour.{{cite web|url= http://www.iopan.gda.pl/~wiktor/macroalgae/bli_min.html|title=Blidingia minima (Nageli ex Kutzing) Kylin, 1947|publisher=Svalbard's Macroalgae|access-date=June 7, 2013}} It fronds are tubular with it cell arrangement being irregular and {{convert|10|µm}} in diameter. Stellate chloroplasts also exist. The tubes rise in groups from the center.{{cite web|url=http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2777|title=A green seaweed - Blidingia minima|publisher=The Marine Life Information Network|access-date=June 6, 2013}} It thalli grow as clusters which carry cylindrical and hollow tubes which arise from discoidal cushion.{{cite web|url= http://www.seaweedsofalaska.com/species.asp?SeaweedID=2|title=Blidingia minima|publisher=Seaweed of Alaska|access-date=June 6, 2013}} The tubes are {{convert|1|-|20|mm}} long and {{convert|2|mm}} wide. Thallus cells are {{convert|7|µm}} wide and are angular.{{cite journal|jstor=3226170|author1=Joel A. Swanson |author2=Gary L. Floyd |title=Fine Structure of the Zoospores and Thallus of Blidingia minima|journal=Transactions of the American Microscopical Society|volume=97 | issue = 4|date=October 1978|pages=549–558|doi=10.2307/3226170 }}

Distribution

The type locality of this species is Helgoland, Germany.{{AlgaeBase species|name=Blidingia minima|id=33}} The species is found throughout eastern part of Asia in such countries as China, Japan, Korea and eastern part of Russia. It is also found in Azores, Canada, Norway, South Africa, United States, and various gulfs, seas and oceans, such as Gulf of Maine and Gulf of Mexico and in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and Wadden Sea.{{cite WoRMS|author=Guiry, Michael D|year=2013|title=Blidingia minima (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin, 1947|id=145950|access-date=June 6, 2013}} Besides this places it have a type locality which is and is also common in Ireland and Great Britain.{{cite web|url= http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=33|title=Blidingia minima (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin, 1947|publisher=AlgaeBase|access-date=June 6, 2013}} It was also recorded in Queensland, Australia.{{cite web|url= http://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/species/?blidingia-minima |title=Blidingia minima|publisher=WetlandInfo|website=Department of Environment and Heritage Protection|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=June 7, 2013}}

=English distribution=

In England, the species was recorded from East Sussex.{{cite web|url= http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/r163211.htm|title=English distribution|publisher=BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)|access-date=June 7, 2013}}

Habitat

It is found growing on cobble, boulders, bedrocks, barnacles, driftwood and even on different algae species throughout the semi-protected and protected areas.

Ecology

Blidingia minima is considered to be a food for periwinkles.{{cite web|url=http://www.ecomare.nl/en/ecomare-encyclopedie/animals-and-plants/plants/algae-and-seaweed/green-seaweed/blidingia-minima/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624232611/http://www.ecomare.nl/en/ecomare-encyclopedie/animals-and-plants/plants/algae-and-seaweed/green-seaweed/blidingia-minima/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2013|title=Blidingia minima|publisher=Ecomare|access-date=June 6, 2013}}