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Molecular and morphological evidence for S heathia gen. nov. ( B atrachospermales, R hodophyta) and three new species
Author(s) -
Salomaki Eric D.,
Kwandrans Janina,
Eloranta Pertti,
Vis Morgan L.
Publication year - 2014
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/jpy.12179
Subject(s) - biology , paraphyly , clade , synapomorphy , genus , botany , zoology , taxonomy (biology) , evolutionary biology , phylogenetics , gene , genetics
The freshwater red algal genus B atrachospermum has been shown to be paraphyletic since the first molecular studies of the B atrachospermales. Previous research, along with this study, provides strong support for the clade B atrachospermum section H elminthoidea . This study has found that heterocortication, the presence of both cylindrical and bulbous cells on the main axis, is an underlying synapomorphy of this clade. Based on support from DNA sequences of the rbc L gene, the COI barcode region and the r DNA ITS 1 and 2, along with morphological studies, the new genus S heathia is proposed. Seven heterocorticate species were recognized from the molecular clades. S heathia boryana and S . exigua sp. nov. appear to be restricted to E urope, whereas S . confusa occurs in E urope and N ew Z ealand. S heathia involuta is widespread in the USA and reported for the first time from E urope. S heathia americana sp. nov., has been collected in the USA and C anada, and S . heterocortica and S . grandis sp. nov. have been collected only in the USA . S heathia confusa and S . grandis can be distinguished based on morphological characters, whereas DNA sequence data are required to conclusively distinguish the other species. S heathia fluitans and S . carpoinvolucra also are placed within this genus based on the presence of heterocortication. These data also hint at greater diversity among non‐heterocorticate S heathia than is recognized by the single species name S . arcuata .