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Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls. The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of red, but some species can be purple, yellow, blue, white, or gray-green. Coralline algae play an important role in the ecology of coral reefs. Sea urchins, parrot fish, and limpets and chitons (both mollusks) feed on coralline algae. In the temperate Mediterranean Sea, coralline algae are the main builders of a typical algal reef, the Coralligène ("coralligenous").[5] Many are typically encrusting and rock-like, found in marine waters all over the world. Only one species lives in freshwater.[6] Unattached specimens (maerl, rhodoliths) may form relatively smooth compact balls to warty or fruticose thalli.
A close look at almost any intertidal rocky shore or coral reef will reveal an abundance of pink to pinkish-grey patches, distributed throughout the rock surfaces. These patches of pink "paint" are actually living crustose coralline red algae. The red algae belong to the division Rhodophyta, within which the coralline algae form the order Corallinales. There are over 1600 described species of nongeniculate coralline algae.[7]
The corallines are presently grouped into two families on the basis of their reproductive structures.[8]
Coralline algae are widespread in all of the world's oceans, where they often cover close to 100% of rocky substrata. Only one species, Pneophyllum cetinaensis, is found in freshwater. Its ancestor lived in brackish water, and was already adapted to osmotic stress and rapid changes in water salinity and temperature.[6][9] Many are epiphytic (grow on other algae or marine angiosperms), or epizoic (grow on animals), and some are even parasitic on other corallines. Despite their ubiquity, the coralline algae are poorly known by ecologists, and even by specialist phycologists (people who study algae). For example, a recent book on the seaweeds of Hawaii does not include any crustose coralline algae, even though corallines are quite well studied there and dominate many marine areas.
Corallines have been divided into two groups, although this division does not constitute a taxonomic grouping:
Geniculate corallines are branching, tree-like organisms which are attached to the substratum by crustose or calcified, root-like holdfasts. The organisms are made flexible by having noncalcified sections (genicula) separating longer calcified sections (intergenicula). Nongeniculate corallines range from a few micrometres to several centimetres thick crusts. They are often very slow growing, and may occur on rock, coral skeletons, shells, other algae or seagrasses. Crusts may be thin and leafy to thick and strongly adherent. Some are parasitic or partly endophytic on other corallines. Many coralline crusts produce knobby protuberances ranging from a millimetre to several centimetres high. Some are free-living as rhodoliths (rounded, free-living specimens). The morphological complexity of rhodoliths enhances species diversity, and can be used as a non-taxonomic descriptor for monitoring.[10]
Thalli can be divided into three layers: the hypothallus, perithallus and epithallus.[11] The epithallus is periodically shed, either in sheets or piecemeal.[12]
Lithothamnion sp.
Mesophyllum sp.
Unidentified encrusting species
idem
idem
Corallines live in varying depths of water, ranging from periodically exposed intertidal settings to 270 m water depth (around the maximum penetration of light).[13] Some species can tolerate brackish[13] or hypersaline[14] waters, and only one strictly freshwater coralline species exists.[6] (Some species of the morphologically similar, but non-calcifying, Hildenbrandia, however, can survive in freshwater.) A wide range of turbidities and nutrient concentrations can be tolerated.[13]
Corallines, especially encrusting forms, are slow growers, and expand by 0.1–80 mm annually.[13] All corallines begin with a crustose stage; some later become frondose.[15]
As sessile encrusting organisms, the corallines are prone to overgrowth by other "fouling" algae. The group have many defences to such immuration, most of which depend on waves disturbing their thalli. However, the most relied-upon method involves waiting for herbivores to devour the potential encrusters.[17] This places them in the unusual position of requiring herbivory, rather than benefiting from its avoidance.[18] Many species periodically slough their surface epithallus – and anything attached to it.[17]
Some corallines slough off a surface layer of epithallial cells, which in a few cases may be an antifouling mechanism which serves the same function as enhancing herbivore recruitment. This also affects the community, as many algae recruit on the surface of a sloughing coralline, and are then lost with the surface layer of cells. This can also generate patchiness within the community. The common Indo-Pacific corallines, Neogoniolithon fosliei and Sporolithon ptychoides, slough epithallial cells in continuous sheets which often lie on the surface of the plants.
Not all sloughing serves an antifouling function. Epithallial shedding in most corallines is probably simply a means of getting rid of damaged cells whose metabolic function has become impaired. Morton and his students studied sloughing in the South African intertidal coralline alga, Spongites yendoi, a species which sloughs up to 50% of its thickness twice a year. This deep-layer sloughing, which is energetically costly, does not affect seaweed recruitment when herbivores are removed. The surface of these plants is usually kept clean by herbivores, particularly the pear limpet, Patella cochlear. Sloughing in this case is probably a means of eliminating old reproductive structures and grazer-damaged surface cells, and reducing the likelihood of surface penetration by burrowing organisms.
The corallines have an excellent fossil record from the Early Cretaceous onwards, consistent with molecular clocks that show the divergence of the modern taxa beginning in this period.[1] The fossil record of nonarticulated forms is better: the unmineralized genuiculae of articulated forms break down quickly, scattering the mineralized portions, which then decay more quickly.[1] This said, non-mineralizing coralline algae are known from the Silurian of Gotland[19] showing that the lineage has a much longer history than molecular clocks would indicate.
The earliest known coralline deposits date from the Ordovician,[2][3] although modern forms radiated in the Cretaceous.[20] True corallines are found in rocks of Jurassic age onwards.[21] Stem group corallines are reported from the Ediacaran Doushantuo formation;[20] later stem-group forms include Arenigiphyllum, Petrophyton, Graticula, and Archaeolithophyllum. The corallines were thought to have evolved from within the Solenoporaceae,[22] a view that has been disputed.[3] Their fossil record matches their molecular history, and is complete and continuous.[1]
The Sporolithaceae tend to be more diverse in periods of high ocean temperatures; the opposite is true for the Corallinaceae.[13] The group's diversity has closely tracked the efficiency of grazing herbivores; for instance, the Eocene appearance of parrotfish marked a spike in coralline diversity, and the extinction of many delicately branched (and thus predation-prone) forms.[17]
The group's internal taxonomy is in a state of flux; molecular studies are proving more reliable than morphological methods in approximating relationships within the group.[23] Recent advances in morphological classification based on skeletal ultrastructure, however, are promising. Crystal morphology within the calcified cell wall of coralline algae was found to have a high correspondence with molecular studies. These skeletal structures thus provide morphologic evidence for molecular relationships within the group.[24]
According to AlgaeBase:
According to the World Register of Marine Species:
According to ITIS:
Fresh surfaces are generally colonized by thin crusts, which are replaced by thicker or branched forms during succession over the course of one (in the tropics) to ten (in the Arctic) years.[17] However, the transition from crusts to branched form depends on environmental conditions. Crusts may also become detached and form calcareous nodules known as Rhodoliths.[27] Their growth may be also disrupted by local environmental factors.[28] While coralline algae are present in most hard substrate marine communities in photic depths, they are more common in higher latitudes and in the Mediterranean.[29] Their ability to calcify in low light conditions makes them the some of deepest photosynthetic organisms in the ocean[30] and as such a critical base of mesophotic ecological systems.[31][32]
Since coralline algae contain calcium carbonate, they fossilize fairly well. They are particularly significant as stratigraphic markers in petroleum geology. Coralline rock was used as building stone since the ancient Greek culture.[33]
The calcite crystals composing the cell wall are elongated perpendicular to the cell wall. The calcite normally contains magnesium (Mg), with the magnesium content varying as a function of species and water temperature.[34] If the proportion of magnesium is high, the deposited mineral is more soluble in ocean water, particularly in colder waters, making some coralline algae deposits more vulnerable to ocean acidification.[35]
The first coralline alga recognized as a living organism was probably Corallina in the 1st century AD.[36] In 1837, Rodolfo Amando Philippi recognized coralline algae were not animals, and he proposed the two generic names Lithophyllum and Lithothamnion as Lithothamnium.[36] For many years, they were included in the order Cryptonemiales as the family Corallinaceae until, in 1986, they were raised to the order Corallinales.
Many corallines produce chemicals which promote the settlement of the larvae of certain herbivorous invertebrates, particularly abalone. Larval settlement is adaptive for the corallines because the herbivores remove epiphytes which might otherwise smother the crusts and preempt available light. Settlement is also important for abalone aquaculture; corallines appear to enhance larval metamorphosis and the survival of larvae through the critical settlement period. It also has significance at the community level; the presence of herbivores associated with corallines can generate patchiness in the survival of young stages of dominant seaweeds. This has been seen this in eastern Canada, and it is suspected the same phenomenon occurs on Indo-Pacific coral reefs, yet nothing is known about the herbivore enhancement role of Indo-Pacific corallines, or whether this phenomenon is important in coral reef communities.
Some coralline algae develop into thick crusts which provide microhabitat for many invertebrates. For example, off eastern Canada, Morton found juvenile sea urchins, chitons, and limpets suffer nearly 100% mortality due to fish predation unless they are protected by knobby and undercut coralline algae. This is probably an important factor affecting the distribution and grazing effects of herbivores within marine communities. Nothing is known about the microhabitat role of Indo-Pacific corallines. However, the most common species in the region, Hydrolithon onkodes, often forms an intimate relationship with the chiton Cryptoplax larvaeformis. The chiton lives in burrows it makes in H. onkodes plants, and comes out at night to graze on the surface of the coralline. This combination of grazing and burrowing results in a peculiar growth form (called "castles") in H. onkodes, in which the coralline produces nearly vertical, irregularly curved lamellae. Coralline algae are part of the diet of shingle urchins (Colobocentrotus atratus).
Nongeniculate corallines are of particular significance in the ecology of coral reefs, where they add calcareous material to the structure of the reef, help cement the reef together, and are important sources of primary production. Coralline algae are especially important in reef construction, as they lay down calcium carbonate as calcite. Although they contribute considerable bulk to the calcium carbonate structure of coral reefs, their more important role in most areas of the reef, is in acting as the cement which binds the reef materials into a sturdy structure.[37]
Corallines are particularly important in constructing the algal ridge's reef framework for surf-pounded reefs in both the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. Algal ridges are carbonate frameworks constructed mainly by nongeniculate coralline algae (after Adey, 1978). They require high and persistent wave action to form, so develop best on windward reefs with little or no seasonal change in wind direction. Algal ridges are one of the main reef structures that prevent oceanic waves from striking adjacent coastlines, helping to prevent coastal erosion.
Because of their calcified structure, coralline algae have a number of economic uses.
Some harvesting of maërl beds that span several thousand kilometres off the coast of Brazil takes place. These beds contain as-yet undetermined species belonging to the genera Lithothamnion and Lithophyllum.
The collection of unattached corallines (maërl) for use as soil conditioners dates to the 18th century. This is particularly significant in Britain and France, where more than 300,000 tonnes of Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas, Adey & McKinnin) and Lithothamnion corallioides are dredged annually.
The earliest use of corallines in medicine involved the preparation of a vermifuge from ground geniculate corallines of the genera Corallina and Jania. This use stopped towards the end of the 18th century. Medical science now uses corallines in the preparation of dental bone implants. The cell fusions provide the matrix for the regeneration of bone tissue.
Maërl is also used as a food additive for cattle and pigs, as well as in the filtration of acidic drinking water.
As a colorful component of live rock sold in the marine aquarium trade, and an important part of reef health, coralline algae are desired in home aquariums for their aesthetic qualities, and ostensible benefit to the tank ecosystem.
Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls. The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of red, but some species can be purple, yellow, blue, white, or gray-green. Coralline algae play an important role in the ecology of coral reefs. Sea urchins, parrot fish, and limpets and chitons (both mollusks) feed on coralline algae. In the temperate Mediterranean Sea, coralline algae are the main builders of a typical algal reef, the Coralligène ("coralligenous"). Many are typically encrusting and rock-like, found in marine waters all over the world. Only one species lives in freshwater. Unattached specimens (maerl, rhodoliths) may form relatively smooth compact balls to warty or fruticose thalli.
A close look at almost any intertidal rocky shore or coral reef will reveal an abundance of pink to pinkish-grey patches, distributed throughout the rock surfaces. These patches of pink "paint" are actually living crustose coralline red algae. The red algae belong to the division Rhodophyta, within which the coralline algae form the order Corallinales. There are over 1600 described species of nongeniculate coralline algae.
The corallines are presently grouped into two families on the basis of their reproductive structures.
Las algas coralinas (Corallinales) forman un orden de algas rojas que pertenecen a la clase Florideophyceae.[4] Se encuentran en todas las aguas marinas del mundo y se caracterizan por un talo duro que contiene depósitos calcáreos contenidos dentro de las paredes celulares. El color de estas algas es típicamente rosado u algún otro tono de rojo, pero existen también especies que pueden ser púrpura, amarillo, azul, blanco o gris-verde. Las algas coralinas tienen un papel importante en la ecología de los arrecifes de coral. Los erizos de mar, peces loro, lapas (moluscos) y quitones (moluscos), se alimentan de algas coralinas. Típicamente, muchas especies son incrustante y su superficie se parece a una roca. Especies no fijadas (maerl, rodolitos) pueden formar bolas relativamente compactas con una superficie que puede variar de suave hasta verrugosa o talos fruticosos. Hay más de 1600 especies de algas coralinas no geniculadas.[6]
Las algas coralinas están agrupadas en dos familias sobre la base de sus estructuras reproductivas.[7]
Las algas coralinas se distribuyen en todos los océanos del mundo, donde a menudo cubren casi el 100% de los sustratos rocosos. Muchas de ellas son epífitas (que crecen sobre otras algas o angiospermas marinas), o epizoicos (que crecen sobre animales), y algunos incluso son parásitos de otros algas coralinas.
Habitan diferentes profundidades, desde áreas periódicamente expuestas a mareas, hasta una produndidad de 270 metros, cerca del límite máximo de la penetración de la luz.[8] Aunque algunas especies pueden tolerar agua salobre[8] o hipersalino,[9] no existen especies de agua dulce. Pueden tolerar una amplia gama de turbidez y de concentraciones de nutrientes.[8][2][3]
Las algas coralinas se desean en los acuarios caseros por sus cualidades estéticas y benefician al ecosistema tanque. Ellos son una parte importante de roca viva, y la roca incrustada con muchos colores de las algas coralinas es muy valorado.[10]
Las algas coralinas (Corallinales) forman un orden de algas rojas que pertenecen a la clase Florideophyceae. Se encuentran en todas las aguas marinas del mundo y se caracterizan por un talo duro que contiene depósitos calcáreos contenidos dentro de las paredes celulares. El color de estas algas es típicamente rosado u algún otro tono de rojo, pero existen también especies que pueden ser púrpura, amarillo, azul, blanco o gris-verde. Las algas coralinas tienen un papel importante en la ecología de los arrecifes de coral. Los erizos de mar, peces loro, lapas (moluscos) y quitones (moluscos), se alimentan de algas coralinas. Típicamente, muchas especies son incrustante y su superficie se parece a una roca. Especies no fijadas (maerl, rodolitos) pueden formar bolas relativamente compactas con una superficie que puede variar de suave hasta verrugosa o talos fruticosos. Hay más de 1600 especies de algas coralinas no geniculadas.
Las algas coralinas están agrupadas en dos familias sobre la base de sus estructuras reproductivas.
Korallilevät (Corallinales) ovat punalevien kuntaan kuuluvia makroleviä. Niitä elää yleisesti maailman valtamerissä, sekä vuorovesivyöhykkeellä että syvemmällä.[2]
Rakenteensa puolesta korallilevät voidaan jakaa kahteen ryhmään, mutta tälle jaolle ei ole taksonomisia perusteita. Toiset muodostuvat jäykistä kalkkia sisältävistä osista, jotka liittyvät toisiinsa joustavilla kapeilla liitoksilla muodostaen haarautuvia ketjuja. Toiset taas kasvavat jäkälää tai maalitahraa muistuttavina läikkinä pitkin kiven pintaa.[3]
Korallilevät (Corallinales) ovat punalevien kuntaan kuuluvia makroleviä. Niitä elää yleisesti maailman valtamerissä, sekä vuorovesivyöhykkeellä että syvemmällä.
Rakenteensa puolesta korallilevät voidaan jakaa kahteen ryhmään, mutta tälle jaolle ei ole taksonomisia perusteita. Toiset muodostuvat jäykistä kalkkia sisältävistä osista, jotka liittyvät toisiinsa joustavilla kapeilla liitoksilla muodostaen haarautuvia ketjuja. Toiset taas kasvavat jäkälää tai maalitahraa muistuttavina läikkinä pitkin kiven pintaa.
L'ordre des Corallinales est un ordre d'algues rouges de la sous-classe des Corallinophycidae, dans la classe des Florideophyceae.
Les algues corallinales sont des « algues calcaires encroûtantes » articulées ou non et d'aspect minéral. Leur couleur est généralement proche du rouge ou du rose, mais des formes avec d'autres couleurs existent, et celle-ci peut également varier en fonction de divers facteurs. Certaines sont ramifiantes (comme Corallina officinalis), présentant un thalle calcifié articulé par des parties molles, mais d'autres sont recouvrantes (comme les Porolithon), et se développement le long des parois minérales sur quelques millimètres d'épaisseur à la manière des lichens. Cette distinction n'est cependant pas un critère phylogénétique, aboutissant à des groupes paraphylétiques[1].
On en compte deux familles principales (Sporolithacées et les Corallinacées), contenant au total plus de 700 espèces[1].
Ces algues sont sans doute le groupe d'algues pouvant vivre le plus profond, jusqu'à −262 m aux Bahamas (à cette profondeur, la lumière est imperceptible pour un œil humain). On les retrouve sur tous types de roches, mais aussi sur des coquilles d'animaux (gastéropodes, oursins cidaroïdes, tortues...) ou des algues. Certaines formes sont libres, comme le maërl[1].
Ces algues jouent un rôle prépondérant dans la construction et le maintien des récifs : elles représentent jusqu'à plus de 40 % de la biomasse des récifs[1].
Selon AlgaeBase (20 octobre 2014)[2] :
Selon World Register of Marine Species (20 octobre 2014)[3] :
Selon ITIS (20 octobre 2014)[4] :
Lithothamnion sp.
Mesophyllum sp.
Un exemple de corallinale encroûtante non identifiée.
idem
idem
L'ordre des Corallinales est un ordre d'algues rouges de la sous-classe des Corallinophycidae, dans la classe des Florideophyceae.
Corallinales, red crvenih alga u razredu Florideophyceae. Dio je podrazreda Corallinophycidae. Postoji blizu 600 priznatih vrsta u 7 porodica.[1]
Corallinales, red crvenih alga u razredu Florideophyceae. Dio je podrazreda Corallinophycidae. Postoji blizu 600 priznatih vrsta u 7 porodica.
Le Corallinales sono un ordine di alghe rosse.
Le Corallinales sono alghe rosse calcaree caratterizzate da uno sviluppo morfogenetico lento, che si manifesta con la deposizione di carbonato nelle pareti cellulari. Grazie alla loro struttura anatomica e citologica, le Corallinales possono vivere negli ambienti più disparati colonizzando substrati anche molto diversi: vivendo incrostanti su fondi duri, su conchiglie o altro, oppure in forme erette, articolate o libere (da "Corallinales Identification Integrated System" - Bressan, Babbini, Poropat).
Le Corallinales sono un ordine di alghe rosse.
Le Corallinales sono alghe rosse calcaree caratterizzate da uno sviluppo morfogenetico lento, che si manifesta con la deposizione di carbonato nelle pareti cellulari. Grazie alla loro struttura anatomica e citologica, le Corallinales possono vivere negli ambienti più disparati colonizzando substrati anche molto diversi: vivendo incrostanti su fondi duri, su conchiglie o altro, oppure in forme erette, articolate o libere (da "Corallinales Identification Integrated System" - Bressan, Babbini, Poropat).
Kalkalger er en gruppe rødalger som består av 39 slekter. De vokser som skorpe på stein, skjell og andre overflater i havet. De fleste vokser svært sakte. De spiller en viktig rolle for økosystemet i korallrev. Kalkalger har blitt brukt til gjødsel, kosttilskudd og medisin.
Kalkalger er en gruppe rødalger som består av 39 slekter. De vokser som skorpe på stein, skjell og andre overflater i havet. De fleste vokser svært sakte. De spiller en viktig rolle for økosystemet i korallrev. Kalkalger har blitt brukt til gjødsel, kosttilskudd og medisin.
Corallinales P.C. Silva & H.W. Johansen, 1986 , segundo o sistema de classificação de Hwan Su Yoon et al. (2006), é o nome botânico de uma ordem de algas vermelhas pluricelulares da classe Florideophyceae, subfilo Rhodophytina.
Família 1: Corallinaceae J.V. Lamouroux, 1812
Família 2: Hapalidiaceae J.E. Gray, 1864
Família 3: Sporolithaceae E. Verheij, 1993
Corallinales P.C. Silva & H.W. Johansen, 1986 , segundo o sistema de classificação de Hwan Su Yoon et al. (2006), é o nome botânico de uma ordem de algas vermelhas pluricelulares da classe Florideophyceae, subfilo Rhodophytina.
Коралі́нові — родина червоних водоростей ряду коралін. Об'єднує декілька родів з невеликою кількістю видів. Так основний рід Кораліна (Corallina) має всього 16 видів.
Це незавершена стаття з альгології.Коралі́нові — родина червоних водоростей ряду коралін. Об'єднує декілька родів з невеликою кількістю видів. Так основний рід Кораліна (Corallina) має всього 16 видів.
珊瑚藻，又名鈣化藻，是一科紅藻，即珊瑚藻科。它們的葉狀體堅硬，原因是在細胞壁中含有石灰。珊瑚藻一般都呈粉紅色，有些呈紅色，有些則呈紫色、黃色、藍色、白色或灰綠色。
沒有附著的珊瑚藻標本會形成較為光滑的小球狀或土灌木狀的葉狀體，大部份都是殼狀及像岩石的。珊瑚藻在珊瑚礁的生態上有重要角色。海膽、鸚哥魚科、帽貝及多板綱都會以珊瑚藻為食。
珊瑚藻分佈在世界各地的海洋，覆蓋著接近100%的岩石下層。很多都是著生的或附動物的，有些甚至是寄生在其他珊瑚藻的。雖然它們無處不在，但實際所知的不多。
傳統上，珊瑚藻可以分為兩類，即膝曲状珊瑚藻及非膝曲状珊瑚藻。膝曲状珊瑚藻是有分枝及樹狀的，以外殼或鈣化的鉤子附在下層，但也有非鈣化較靈活的部份。非膝曲状珊瑚藻的外殼厚幾微米至幾厘米，生長速度較慢，可以在岩石、珊瑚骨骼、貝殼、其他藻類或海草上生長，現已知有超過1600個物種。[3]
珊瑚藻大多都是鈣化的。它們可能有生殖窠；其細胞間具有連結，且展現出次級紋孔連結。[4]它們能夠形成疊層石。[5]
葉狀體可以分成三層，即下葉狀體、上葉狀體及邊葉狀體。[6]
最古老的珊瑚藻可以追溯至奧陶紀[1][2]，而現今的形態是源自白堊紀。[4]莖類的珊瑚藻相信是源自埃迪卡拉紀的陡山沱組。[4]珊瑚藻相信是在管孔藻科內進行演化的。[7]
第一個活生生的珊瑚藻應該於1世紀發現的，且是屬於珊瑚藻屬的。[8]於1837年，Rodolfo Amando Philippi認為珊瑚藻並非動物，並稱石葉藻屬及石枝藻屬為Lithothamnium。[8]多年來它們都被包含在隱絲藻目中，直至1986年才被提升為珊瑚藻目。
大部份珊瑚藻都會產生適合某些草食性無脊椎動物幼體（如鮑魚）附著的化學物質。幼體可以清除妨礙珊瑚藻生長的著生植物。幼體附著對於鮑魚的養殖十分重要；珊瑚藻似乎可以促進幼體變態及生存。在群落層面也有其重要性：珊瑚藻與這些無脊椎動物的出現，可以幫助海草幼生生存的綴塊性。這在加拿大東部已經得到證實，估計在印度洋-太平洋海域的珊瑚礁可能也有類似情況。
一些珊瑚藻摒棄了表層的邊葉狀體細胞，當中少量是用來抗垢及促進草食性動物的生長。當這些珊瑚藻失去表層細胞時，群落得以生成綴塊性。在印度洋-太平洋海域最常見的珊瑚藻有太平洋新角石藻及Sporolithon ptychoides。不過並非所有這類表現都具有抗垢功效。大部份珊瑚藻摒棄表層細胞目的是要清除代謝功能受損的細胞。在南非潮間帶的遠滕似綿藻每年可以摒棄達50%的厚度，這種方式非常耗費能源，且對海草生成沒有幫助。[9][10]這種摒棄方式都是用來清除舊有的繁殖結構及受損的長層細胞，以減低挖穴生物穿過表面的可能性。
一些珊瑚藻會長出很厚的外殼，為很多無脊椎動物提供了微觀生境。例如在加拿大東部對出，幼生海膽、多板綱及帽貝在魚類掠食下的死亡率接近100%，除非它們受到珊瑚藻的保護。[9][10]這可能是影響草食性動物的分佈及牧食效能的重要因素，但是在印度洋-太平洋海域的微觀生境角色所知甚少。在當地常見的Hydrolithon onkodes與Cryptoplax larvaeformis的石鱟有一種非常親密的關係，這種石鱟會棲息在珊瑚藻內的巢穴，並於晚上才出來覓食。這種關係令這種珊瑚藻產生了一種奇突的生長形態：它們會生長出直立及不規則彎曲的片層。
珊瑚藻在珊瑚礁生態上有獨特的重要性，可以為珊瑚礁的結構提供石灰物質，令珊瑚礁可以黏合在一起。另外，它們在大西洋及印度洋-太平洋海域可以幫助構築藻脊。藻脊是碳酸鹽結構，主要是非膝曲状珊瑚藻所構築的。[11]它們需要持續及高海浪來形成，故在迎風面生成最為理想。
由於其鈣化結構，珊瑚藻具有許多經濟價值。於18世紀開始就有採集非附著的珊瑚藻（藻團粒）為土壤調理劑。在英國及法國，每年就有超過30萬噸的Phymatolithon calcareum及Lithothamnion corallioides被挖出來。在巴西對出海岸的一些挖掘工作可以延綿幾千公里。藻團粒也會被用作為歐洲牛及豬的食物添加劑，與及過濾酸性飲用水。
在醫藥上最早使用珊瑚藻是作為驅蟲藥，於18世紀末停止了此種用途。現時會使用珊瑚藻來作為牙補骨。
珊瑚藻，又名鈣化藻，是一科紅藻，即珊瑚藻科。它們的葉狀體堅硬，原因是在細胞壁中含有石灰。珊瑚藻一般都呈粉紅色，有些呈紅色，有些則呈紫色、黃色、藍色、白色或灰綠色。
沒有附著的珊瑚藻標本會形成較為光滑的小球狀或土灌木狀的葉狀體，大部份都是殼狀及像岩石的。珊瑚藻在珊瑚礁的生態上有重要角色。海膽、鸚哥魚科、帽貝及多板綱都會以珊瑚藻為食。
珊瑚藻分佈在世界各地的海洋，覆蓋著接近100%的岩石下層。很多都是著生的或附動物的，有些甚至是寄生在其他珊瑚藻的。雖然它們無處不在，但實際所知的不多。
傳統上，珊瑚藻可以分為兩類，即膝曲状珊瑚藻及非膝曲状珊瑚藻。膝曲状珊瑚藻是有分枝及樹狀的，以外殼或鈣化的鉤子附在下層，但也有非鈣化較靈活的部份。非膝曲状珊瑚藻的外殼厚幾微米至幾厘米，生長速度較慢，可以在岩石、珊瑚骨骼、貝殼、其他藻類或海草上生長，現已知有超過1600個物種。
산호말목(Corallinales)은 진정홍조강에 속하는 홍조류 목 분류군의 하나이다.[2] 7개 과에 약 600여 종으로 이루어져 있다.[2]
아래는 최근 제안된 홍조류 진정홍조강의 계통 분류 중 하나이다.[3][4][5][6]
진정홍조강 분홍딱지아강 국수나물아강[6] 산호말아강 싹새기아강분홍치아강
분홍치아강
