First report of the Australian brown alga Dictyota furcellata (C. Agardh) Grev. from New Zealand

Abstract

The Australian brown alga Dictyota furcellata (C. Agardh) Grev. is reported for the first time from New Zealand waters. It was found in a sheltered, shallow, subtidal site on the south-western shores of Manukau Harbour, Auckland. Subsequent herbarium investigation revealed a further single collection made in 1938 from Charteris Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, Banks Peninsula. This species can be distinguished from all species of Dictyota previously reported from New Zealand by its very narrow, parallel-sided axes (≤1 mm wide).