Outline of the major morphological characteristics and habitats of <italic>Cladophora socialis</italic> and related <italic>Cladophora</italic> species.
Cladophora socialis
C. coelothrix
C. socialis
External morphology
Apical cells
Diameter (μm)
28-43
55-140
57-75
65-120
24-54
30-40
25-50
35-55
L/D
7-17
5-16
5-15
2.5-16
7-18
3-5
10-40
4-22
Shape of terminal portion
Round
Round
Round
Round
Round
Cell wall thickness (μm)
0.9-2.6
1-3
0.5
< 1
1
0.5-1
Main axis cells
Diameter (μm)
60-99
60-220
75-120
65-170
44-80
40-60 (70)
35-55
35-85
Ratio of Length to Diameter
3-7
2.5-12
1.5-12
2-20
4-5
3-20
3-15
Cell wall thickness (μm)
1.7-4.6
< 15
< 4
2-4
< 8
< 3
Ramification
Angle
24-70 (180)
< 90
20-50
> 45
45-90
45-90
> 45
Internal morphology
Chloroplast
Position
Peripheral reticulate
Morphological form
Plate
Nuclei
No. in apical cells
12-38
No. in main axis cells
10-66
Diameter in apical cells (μm)
3-6
Diameter in main axis cells (μm)
2-7
Ultrastructure
Pyrenoid
Diameter (μm)
1-3
Shape
Spherical, Ellipsoidal
Type
Bilenticular, Zonal
Bilenticular
Growth pattern
ACD at terminal cells and lateral division at intermediate cells
ACD
Mainly ACD, ICD lower down
Mainly ACD, ICD in shorter cells
Mainly ACD, ICD in shorter cells
ICD
ICD
Mainly ACD, ICD
Ecology
Habitat
Stagnant water
Wave-exposed to mangrove areas
Intertidal to subtidal area
Shady places at sublittoral
Wave-exposed to mangrove areas
Intertidal, tidal pools
Intertidal areas
Sublittoral
Form
FSA, CM
T
CM
ASP, FF,
Distribution
Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific
Tropical to warm temperate
Tropical to warm temperate
Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific
Tahiti (type locality), Hawaiian Is., Southern Japan, Europe
