• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.341-349
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• 2016

The red algal genus Amalthea was first described from New Zealand with one species, A. freemaniae. We discovered a new species of Amalthea from Korea, Amalthea rubida sp. nov., and described it based on morphology and rbcL sequences. A. rubida is characterized by a foliose, membranous and soft thallus having loosely arranged anticlinal medullary filaments, much like A. freemaniae, except for a difference of the cortex thickness in the basal part of vegetative structure. In the rbcL phylogenetic analyses, A. rubida formed a clade with A. freemaniae from New Zealand and Halymenia abyssicola from Mexico. A. rubida showed 5.7% interspecific divergence to A. freemaniae and 4.7% to H. abyssicola. Our discovery of A. rubida expands the distribution of Amalthea from the oceanic southwestern Pacific into the continental northwestern. A targeted global study is needed to fully reveal the species diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Amalthea and members of the order Halymeniales.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2013

Despite specimens' large size and ease of collection in northeast Asian waters, the species diversity of the genus Grateloupia still needs more research in Korea. We investigated plastid rbcL sequences and carried out detailed morphological observation on flattened halymeniacean red alga collected in twelve locations around Korea and Japan. We describe Grateloupia jejuensis sp. nov. based on the distinct clade with high support in our rbcL tree. Grateloupia jejuensis is characterized by solitary or caespitose habit and flattened thalli with discoid holdfast, cartilaginous texture, and blunt or bifid axis. Grateloupia jejuensis was distantly related to G. elata and G. cornea, which have been morphologically confused with the former, and it formed a sister relationship with Prionitis filiformis from California, USA in the rbcL tree.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Here we report the first finding of Cryptonemia rotunda and Schizymenia apoda in Korea based on plastid rbcL sequence analysis and morphological observations. C. rotunda occurred in the subtidal in Hongdo and Namyeodo on the south coast. Thalli have short stipe with foliose, membranous blades with dentate margin, a length of 2-8 cm. S. apoda occurred in many locations along the coast of Korea. Thalli are foliose, simple or broadly lanceolate blades with irregular lobes and proliferations from the margins, sometimes undulate, soft fleshy, and slippery, up to 32 cm tall, and have cystocarps with ostioles on the blade. Plastid rbcL sequences reveal that each of these species is clearly separated from other species of their respective genera. S. apoda was well resolved within the genus. However, C. rotunda was distantly related to other members of the genus, and this result needs an urgent revision of the genus.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.23-38
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• 2023

Accurately identifying species is the basis of all biological studies. There has been much confusion in the identification of Grateloupiacean species, which have finely pinnate gross morphology similar to Grateloupia filicina (the type species of the family). The objective of this study was to comprehensively investigate species identification and distribution of G. filicina-like species in the Northwest Pacific, based on the rbcL sequences. A total of 118 specimens from 78 sites in Korea and Japan were collected from 2001 to 2021 and analyzed for their rbcL sequences. Additional 341 sequences downloaded from the GenBank were included in our comprehensive dataset. Based on these sequences, we documented the nomenclatural history and geographical distribution of the species, and commented on the application of species name. G. asiatica was the most abundant G. filicina-like species in the Northwest Pacific, and its high degree of morphological variation caused many misidentifications. In particular, G. dalianensis, G. serra, and G. variata require reconsideration of their conspecificity with G. asiatica using more specimens from China. By contrast, G. oligoclora was presumed to be a heterotypic synonym of G. subpectinata. The occurrence of G. acuminata, G. ramosissima, and G. livida in Korea resulted from misidentifications with other species.