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Systematics of hydropuntia montagne (gracilariaceae, gracilariales, rhodophyta) based on comparative morphology and rbc L sequence analysis
Author(s) -
Gurgel C. F. D.,
Fredericq S.,
Norris J. N.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.2003.03906001_57.x
Subject(s) - biology , clade , monophyly , phylogenetic tree , genus , gracilaria , evolutionary biology , systematics , zoology , botany , taxonomy (biology) , genetics , gene , algae
The taxonomic validity of the genus Hydropuntia Montagne (1843) (including Polycavernosa) within the Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) is controversial. Morphological characters that define species of Hydropuntia are said to be variable and to overlap with those of Gracilaria. Here we present a global phylogenetic study of the family based on a Bayesian analysis of a large rbc L DNA sequence dataset indicating that the genus Hydropuntia forms a well supported monophyletic clade within the family, and recognize Hydropuntia as a genus distinct from Gracilaria. We also conducted smaller phylogenetic analyses in which thirty four Hydropuntia rbc L sequences resulted in two major clades within the genus, comprising a Caribbean clade and an Indo‐Pacific clade. Diagnostic reproductive stages that separate these two clades will be illustrated.