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Species‐delimitation and phylogenetic analyses of some cosmopolitan species of Hypnea (Rhodophyta) reveal synonyms and misapplied names to H. cervicornis , including a new species from Brazil
Author(s) -
Jesus Priscila Barreto,
Nauer Fabio,
Lyra Goia de Mattos,
Cassano Valéria,
Oliveira Mariana Cabral,
Nunes José Marcos de Castro,
Schnadelbach Alessandra Selbach
Publication year - 2016
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.12436
Subject(s) - biology , systematics , phylogenetic tree , genus , zoology , pantropical , molecular phylogenetics , taxonomy (biology) , ecology , evolutionary biology , biochemistry , gene
Hypnea has an intricate nomenclatural history due to a wide pantropical distribution and considerable morphological variation. Recent molecular studies have provided further clarification on the systematics of the genus; however, species of uncertain affinities remain due to flawed taxonomic identification. Detailed analyses coupled with literature review indicated a strong relationship among H. aspera , H. cervicornis , H. flexicaulis, and H. tenuis, suggesting a need for further taxonomic studies. Here, we analyzed sequences from two molecular markers ( COI ‐5P and rbc L) and performed several DNA ‐based delimitation methods ( mBGD , ABGD , SPN , PTP and GMYC). These molecular approaches were contrasted with morphological and phylogenetic evidence from type specimens and/or topotype collections of related species under a conservative approach. Our results demonstrate that H. aspera and H. flexicaulis represent heterotypic synonyms of H. cervicornis and indicate the existence of a misidentified Hypnea species, widely distributed on the Brazilian coast, described here as a new species: H. brasiliensis . Finally, inconsistencies observed among our results based on six different species delimitation methods evidence the need for adequate sampling and marker choice for different methods.