Morphology and phylogenetic relationships of the Bangiaes (Rhodophyta) from King George Island, Antarctica

Abstract

Members of the Bangiales (Rhodophyta) are distributed worldwide from tropic to Antarctic and Arctic waters. Three species of the Bangiales; Bangia fuscopurpurea (as B. atropurpurea), Porphyra plocamiestris and Pyropia endiviifolia (as Porphyra endiviifolium), have been reported in the Antarctic. Morphological and molecular data were investigated for the Bangiales from the Antarctic and its adjacent waters. Each six sequences of SSU rDNA, plastid rbcL and mitochondrial cox1 gene were newly determined in this study. Molecular data from over 60 taxa of the Bangiales worldwide including previously published sequences, indicated that the genera Bangia, Dione, Pyropia, Porphyra, Wildemania and other related genera be recognized in the Bangiales as in the previous molecular study. Bangia fuscopurpurea from the Antarctic was different from B. fuscopurpurea from north Pacific (Korea and Japan) by 12 bp in cox1 gene sequence. Porphyra plocamiestris growing on other macroalgae in sub-tidal zone grouped into the genus Wildemania with the species having one or two cell layers in molecular data. Pyropia endiviifolia is olive green in color and it allied to a clade with P. cinnamomea and P. virididentata from New Zealand. The taxonomic issues and phylogenetic relationships of the Antarctic members of the Bangiales will be discussed.orphyra endiviifolium), have been reported in the Antarctic. Morphological and molecular data were investigated for the Bangiales from the Antarctic and its adjacent waters. Each six sequences of SSU rDNA, plastid rbcL and mitochondrial cox1 gene were newly determined in this study. Molecular data from over 60 taxa of the Bangiales worldwide including previously published sequences, indicated that the genera Bangia, Dione, Pyropia, Porphyra, Wildemania and other related genera be recognized in the Bangiales as in the previous molecular study. Bangia fuscopurpurea from the Antarctic was different from B. fuscopurpure