A new type of life history in Bryopsis (Chlorophyceae, Caulerpales)

A Bryopsis “plumosa” population from Roscoff appeared to have a heteromorphic life history. Zygotes from the anisogametes grew into filamentous germlings that produced spherical stephanokontic zoids. These stephanokontic zoids grew into new Bryopsis plants. Comparable filamentous germlings produced by a Bryopsis “plumosa” population from Zeeland (Netherlands) grew directly into new Bryopsis plants. Crosses between female gametes from the Roscoff population and male gametes from the Zeeland population (and vice versa) produced a fertile offspring. The filamentous germlings, resulting from these crosses however, directly grew into new male or female Bryopsis plants.