• ALGAE
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-13
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• 2006

In this work we report the occurrence of Scytosiphon gracilis Kogame (Scytosiphonaceae, Phaeophyceae) on the Pacific coast of Mexico. This is the first report of S. gracilis outside its previously known distribution in the western North Pacific (Korea and Japan). The identification was based on a morphological revision and a comparison of the plastid-encoded RuBisCO spacer sequences determined for Korean and Mexican algal material. Thalli were collected from the intertidal zone of Saldamando Beach, Baja California, in January 2003. The vegetative structure, as well as habitat and geographic distribution of the species are described. Reproductive structures were not found in our specimens. The poor presence/absence of S. gracilis in previous floristic studies of the area could be due to its small size and low frequency.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.98-98
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.105.2-106
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• 2000

No Abstract, See Full Text

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2014

Red algal parasites are common within red algae and are mostly closely related to their hosts, but have a reduced habit. In the past, red algal parasites, due to their reduced morphology, have been given distinct generic names, even though they are often phylogenetically nested in their host's genus. This is a problem nomenclaturally for maintenance of a taxonomy based on monophyly. This study investigates the morphology, genetic variation and distribution of an undescribed red algal parasite growing on its host Rhodophyllis membranacea, widely distributed throughout New Zealand. Microscopy, molecular markers (plastid, mitochondrial, nuclear), and herbarium investigation were used to investigate this species. The parasite is widely distributed throughout New Zealand. All molecular markers clearly show that the parasite is almost identical to the host, even though morphologically quite distinct from members of the host genus. We believe that to maintain monophyly of Rhodophyllis the parasite should be described as a new species of Rhodophyllis, Rhodophyllis parasitica sp. nov. We also recommend that in order to maintain generic monophyly most red algal parasite genera should also be transferred to their host genus.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.91-103
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• 2016

A goal of phylogeography is to relate phylogenetic patterns to potential historic and contemporary geographic isolating events. Genetic breaks found in phylogeographic studies may denote boundaries between more generally applicable biogeographic regions. We investigated the distribution of Lessonia variegata, an important habitat forming alga, found on most rocky shores around New Zealand’s main islands, plus related species from surrounding waters. L. variegata has been shown to consist of four distinct cryptic species. Our aim was to compare the distribution of L. variegata with proposed bioregions; and to develop phylogeographic hypotheses to explain its present day distribution. Both a mitochondrial (atp8-sp) and plastid (RuBisCo spacer) marker, with different mutation rates, were used to gain information of the phylogenetic history of Lessonia. The data revealed high phylogeographic structuring and reciprocal endemism for all L. variegata cryptic species. One species (L. variegata / N) is confined to the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand; L. variegata / W is found at the southeast of the North Island and the northern South Island; L. variegata / K is endemic to the northeast South Island; and L. variegata / S is restricted to the southern part of the South Island. No overlapping areas of L. variegata species distribution were found. The data showed that genetic breaks in Lessonia do mostly correlate to bioregions, and highlight the importance of Cape Campbell at the northeast of the South Island and East Cape in the North Island, well known phylogeographic breaks, as a barrier between adjacent species.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2017

Morphological, molecular and chromosomal studies were carried out on Tauya basicrassa, an endemic kelp species distributed on the northern continental coast of the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia. The sporophytes of T. basicrassa grow up to 3-6 m long, 1.8-2.2 m wide, and 6.5-7 kg wet weight. The thallus has a blade with very thick narrow basal portion and thinner and much broader upper portion, which usually splits into 3 bullated lobes. A dwarf laminariacean alga, which did not show any morphological similarity to the other species of the order Laminariales, was found from the same locality. The blade of this alga is thin and soft, reached 26-34 cm long and 6-6.5 cm wide and had 4 longitudinal rows of bullations that covered the entire blade. Molecular analysis showed that the dwarf alga has 100% sequence identity in plastid-encoded RuBisCo spacer, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and nuclear-encoded rDNA genes with normal sporophytes of T. basicrassa, indicating that they are different life forms of the same species. Fluorescent DAPI staining showed that the nucleus in the normal sporophyte was 50-65% larger than those of the dwarf ones. Chromosome count using acetocarmine staining showed n = ca. 20 for the normal sporophytes of T. basicrassa and n = ca. 10 for the dwarf one. These results suggest that the dwarf thallus is a haploid parthenosporophyte of T. basicrassa, which developed in nature. This is the first evidence of parthenosporophytes of the laminariacean algae occurring naturally in the field.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2022

Genetic diversity and distribution patterns of marine macroalgae are increasingly being documented in Southeast Asia. These studies show that there can be significant levels of genetic diversity and isolation between populations on either side of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Bostrychia tenellla is a common filamentous red seaweed in the region and the entity is represented by at least two cryptic species. Despite being highly diverse and widespread, genetic variation and population structure of this species complex remains understudied, especially around the Thai-Malay Peninsula. We analyzed genetic diversity and inferred the phylogeographic pattern of specimens identified as B. tenella using the plastid RuBisCo spacer from samples from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Our genetic analysis confirmed the occurrence of the two cryptic B. tenella species (B and C) along both coasts. Cryptic species B was more common in the area and displayed higher genetic diversity than species C. Historical demographic analyses indicated a stable population for species B, but more recent population expansion for species C. Our analyses also revealed that both cryptic species from the Andaman Sea possessed higher genetic diversity than those of the Gulf of Thailand. We also detected moderate to high levels of gene flow and weak phylogeographic structure of cryptic species B between the two coasts. In contrast, phylogeographic analysis showed genetic differences between populations of both cryptic species within the Andaman Sea. Overall, these results suggest that cryptic B. tenella species around Thai-Malay Peninsula may have undergone different demography histories, and their patterns of genetic diversity and phylogeography were likely caused by geological history and regional sea surface current circulation in the area.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 2023

Cryptic stages of diverse macroalgae present in natural substrata, "the bank of microscopic forms", were isolated into clonal cultures and identified based on both morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Approximately 120 clonal isolates from 308 natural substratum samples were collected from the entire coastline of Kuwait. Amongst these isolates, 77 (64%) were identified through DNA barcoding using the nuclear ribosomal small subunit, RuBisCO spacer (ITS2, tufa, rbcL, psaA, and psbA) and sequencing. Twenty-six isolates (34%) were identified in the division Chlorophyta, 18 (23%) as Phaeophyceae, and 33 (43%) as Rhodophyta. For all DNA sequences in this study, species-level cut off applied was ≥98% homology which depend entirely on the markers used. Three putative new records of Chlorophyta new for the Arabian Gulf were made: Cladophora laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kützing, Ulva torta (Mertens) Trevisan and Ulvella leptochaete (Huber) R. Nielsen, C. J. O'Kelly & B. Wysor in Nielsen, while Cladophora gracilis Kützing and Ulva ohnoi M. Hiraoka & S. Shimada are new records for Kuwait. For Phaeophyceae, Ectocarpus subulatus Kützing and Elachista stellaris Areschoug were new records for the Gulf and Kuwait. In the Rhodophyta, Acrochaetium secundatum (Lyngbye) Nägeli in Nägeli & Cramer, Ceramium affine Setchell & N. L. Gardner, Gelidium pusillum var. pakistanicum Afaq-Husain & Shameel and Dasya caraibica Børgesen are new records for the Gulf and Kuwait, while the red alga Stylonema alsidii (Zanardini) K. Drew is a new record for Kuwait. Several isolates identified corresponded to genera not previously reported in Kuwait and / or the Arabian Gulf, such as Porphyrostromium Trevisan, a new genus from the Bangiales, and two unidentified species for the Planophilaceae Škaloud & Leliaert. The isolates cultivated from substrata enhance understanding of the marine macroalgal diversity in the region and confirmed that the Germling Emergence Method is suitable for determining the actual diversity of a given study area through isolation from cryptic life-history phases.