CONFUSING CONVERGENT MORPHOLOGIES: DIVERSITY AND DIFFICULTIES IN NEW ZEALAND ERYTHROPELTIDALES AND BANGIALES

Authors: Nelson, W.¹; Broom, J.E.²; Farr, T.¹

Source: Journal of Phycology, Volume 36, Supplement 3, December 2000 , pp. 51-51(1)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

An examination of New Zealand species of Porphyra and Bangia has led to the discovery of unexpectedly high diversity. In excess of 30 species of Porphyra and 5 species of Bangia can be distinguished, based on 18S rDNA sequence data. It is possible to develop a workable taxonomic framework to distinguish species of Porphyra found within this geographic region using a range of characters (morphological, anatomical, biochemical, physiological, life history characteristics). However, the taxonomic distinctions do not necessarily reflect phylogenetic relationships revealed by sequence analyses: convergence in character states is obscuring relationships. In the course of our work we have discovered that four species, originally described on the basis of traditional morphological and anatomical characters as Porphyra or Bangia, are more closely related to members of the order Erythropeltidales than to the Bangiales. These results are challenging us to consider new ways of describing and defining these organisms. We are finding convergence in character states, not only within Porphyra sens. lat. But spanning both the Bangiales and Erythropeltidales, which confounds both taxonomic distinctions and also phylogenetic hypotheses based on morphology and anatomy. This confusion could be countered effectively by the inclusion of molecular sequence data based on vouchered or type material in descriptions of taxa in the orders Bangiales and Erythropeltidales. This would allow conclusive identification of collected material by appropriate molecular tests, which are quicker and more direct identification tools than, for example, using characters drawn from the growth of these organisms under controlled culture conditions.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.00001-152.x

Affiliations: 1: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand; 2: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

Publication date: 2000-12-01

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