Maintenance of divergent morphologies in sympatry: the case of the intertidal red alga Hypnea pseudomusciformis

• Grant number: 20/00860-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2021
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Agreement: Universities New Zealand, Te Pōkai Tara
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Mutue Toyota Fujii
• Grantee: Mutue Toyota Fujii
• Principal researcher abroad: Giuseppe Zuccarello
• Institution abroad: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais (IPA). Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fábio Nauer da Silva
• Associated research grant: 17/50341-0 - Challenges for biodiversity conservation facing climate changes, pollution, land use and occupation (PDIp), AP.PDIP

Abstract

Hypnea pseudomusciformis is one of the most common species in the Brazilian coast. Research has confirmed that this genetically similar alga shows a great deal of morphological variation even in sympatry, and that this variation is stable in culture. Research has also shown that these genetically stable morphologies are reproductively compatible. How do reproductively compatible organisms maintain divergent morphologies in sympatry? This work will have implications both for algal evolutionary studies, i.e. factor driving speciation, plus algal responses to diverse environments, i.e. environmental change. This collaboration will take advantage of reciprocal visits (New Zealand and Brazil) to develop variable nuclear markers that will be used to determine if unknown reproductive isolating mechanisms are maintaining isolation, leading to these divergent morphologies. This work will also initiate studies on the phylogeography and population genetics of seaweeds, using hypervariable markers, on the Brazilian coasts. Dr Fabio Nauer is an expert in the genetic variation and reproduction of Brazilian algae, especially the genus Hypnea, and this research will be a continuation, and lead to further applications, of his FAPESP research. Professor Zuccarello has an interest in intra-specific variation and the mechanisms maintained and producing variation and leading to speciation. (AU)