Diversity and phylogenetic relationships of marine benthic algae: the Laurencia complex (Rhodophyta) in the Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical regions

• Grant number: 10/52244-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2011 - July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Cassano
• Grantee: Valéria Cassano
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main goal is to contribute to the knowledge of diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Laurencia complex (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) in the Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical regions. For this, DNA barcoding technique and comparison of DNA sequences from other molecular markers will be used, combined with detailed morphological studies of the species. Most species of the complex Laurencia presents great morphological plasticity complicating the taxonomy of the group and thus leading to constant nomenclatural changes. Molecular studies have generated important proposals on generic and specific circumscriptions and have contributed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of this complex and its classification system. This project, continuing the first one that was supported by the Education and Sciences of the Spanish Government Ministry, shall continue to study the diversity and phylogeny of the Laurencia complex in tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic (Brazil and Mexico) and Eastern Atlantic (Canary Islands, Spain) and expand this study to other islands of the Macaronesian region: Azores, Savage and Madeira Islands (Portugal). (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

METTI, YOLA; MILLAR, ALAN J. K.; CASSANO, VALERIA; FUJII, MUTUE T.. Australian Laurencia majuscula (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) and the Brazilian Laurencia dendroidea are conspecific. PHYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, v. 61, n. 2, p. 98-104, APR 2013. (10/52244-2, 07/51270-7)

ROCHA-JORGE, RENATO; CASSANO, VALERIA; BARROS-BARRETO, MARIA BEATRIZ; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; SENTIES, ABEL; CANDELARIA GIL-RODRIGUEZ, MARIA; FUJII, MUTUE TOYOTA. Osmundea sanctarum sp. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. PHYTOTAXA, v. 100, n. 1, p. 41-56, MAY 23 2013. (10/20559-4, 10/52244-2, 07/51270-7)

FUJII, MUTUE T.; CASSANO, VALERIA; SENTIES, ABEL; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; MACHIN-SANCHEZ, MARIA; CANDELARIA GIL-RODRIGUEZ, MA. Comparative analysis of the corps en cerise in several species of Laurencia (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from the Atlantic Ocean. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY, v. 22, n. 4, p. 795-804, JUL-AUG 2012. (10/52244-2)

CASSANO, VALERIA; OLIVEIRA, MARIANA C.; CANDELARIA GIL-RODRIGUEZ, MA; SENTIES, ABEL; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; FUJII, MUTUE T.. Morphological and molecular studies on the Brazilian native red seaweed Laurencia oliveirana (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales). REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY, v. 22, n. 4, p. 838-849, JUL-AUG 2012. (10/52244-2, 10/50193-1)

FUJII, MUTUE T.; CASSANO, VALERIA; STEIN, ERIKA M.; CARVALHO, LUCIANA R.. Overview of the taxonomy and of the major secondary metabolites and their biological activities related to human health of the Laurencia complex (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY, v. 21, n. 2, p. 268-282, MAR-APR 2011. (08/07775-0, 10/52244-2, 10/50193-1)

CASSANO, VALERIA; METTI, YOLA; MILLAR, ALAN J. K.; CANDELARIA GIL-RODRIGUEZ, MARIA; SENTIES, ABEL; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; OLIVEIRA, MARIANA C.; FUJII, MUTUE T.. Redefining the taxonomic status of Laurencia dendroidea (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from Brazil and the Canary Islands. European Journal of Phycology, v. 47, n. 1, p. 67-81, 2012. (10/52244-2, 07/51270-7)

MACHIN-SANCHEZ, MARIA; LE GALL, LINE; NETO, ANA I.; ROUSSEAU, FLORENCE; CASSANO, VALERIA; SENTIES, ABEL; FUJII, MUTUE T.; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; VAN REINE, WILLEM F. PRUD'HOMME; BONILLO, CELINE; et al. A combined barcode and morphological approach to the systematics and biogeography of Laurencia pyramidalis and Laurenciella marilzae (Rhodophyta). European Journal of Phycology, v. 49, n. 1, p. 115-127, JAN 2 2014. (10/52244-2)

MACHIN-SANCHEZ, MARIA; CASSANO, VALERIA; DIAZ-LARREA, JHOANA; SENTIES, ABEL; FUJII, MUTUE T.; CANDELARIA GIL-RODRIGUEZ, MARIA. Morphological and molecular evidence demonstrates the amphi-Atlantic distribution of Laurencia catarinensis (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta). Botanica Marina, v. 55, n. 3, p. 241-252, JUN 2012. (10/52244-2)