This book is the fifth volume of the Marine Algal Flora of China: Rhodophyta. The series has seven volumes covering about 20 orders, 45 families, 173 genera, and 560 species including over 150 species first described from China, indicating significant importance to the knowledge of North-Western Pacific marine algal flora. The fifth volume covers the orders Ahnfeltiales, Gigartinales, Sebdeniales, Nemastomatales, Plocamiales, Gracilariales, and Rhodymeniales. It provides first-hand literature necessary to phycologists who aimed to study algal taxonomy and diversity, especially in the North Western Pacific region.
Almost all species involved are illustrated in detail on morphology, inner structure, habitats, and geographical distribution, based upon herbarium specimens collected along the China coast, and a lot of elaborate pictures are attached inside. This flora will gain our understanding of current Chinese marine red algae, but much research is still necessary to reflect the whole picture of the red algal diversity along the China coast.
Dr Guangce Wang is a research professor at the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), and professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Oceanology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also the deputy director of the Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the 7th Chinese Society of Phycology. Dr Wang is the academic leader of “Physiology and Development Regulation of Algae” in IOCAS, as well as an editorial board member of some scientific journals including Marine Science, Journal of Tropical Oceanography, Oceanologia et Limnologia Sinica, and Scientific Reports. His research is focused on the key scientific issues of sustainable utilization of marine algal resources, including the utilization of light energy, early development, and rapid proliferation mechanism of seaweeds, so as to provide theoretical guidance and technical support for the development of economic algae breeding industry and algae industry.