Hypnea species (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from the southeastern coast of Brazil based on molecular studies complemented with morphological analyses, including descriptions of Hypnea edeniana sp nov and H. flava sp nov.

Author(s)

Nauer, Fabio ^[1] ; Guimaraes, Natalia R. ^[1] ; Cassano, Valeria ^[1] ; Yokoya, Nair S. ^[2] ; Oliveira, Mariana C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Bot, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Secretaria Meio Ambiente Sao Paulo, Inst Bot, BR-04301012 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: European Journal of Phycology; v. 49, n. 4, p. 550-575, NOV 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 15

Abstract

The red algal genus Hypnea (Gigartinales) has a wide geographical distribution along tropical and subtropical coasts around the world. The relatively simple and plastic morphology, often influenced by the conditions of its habitat, complicates the identification of Hypnea species. Therefore, the number and status of some species remain in doubt. Molecular studies have been performed to supplement traditional studies based on morphology, mainly for Hypnea species occurring in Asia. In the present study, sequence data from the DNA barcode COI-5P for 114 samples from the southeastern coast of Brazil, indicated the occurrence of six taxa. Additionally, sequence data from the UPA and rbcL markers for representatives of each of those taxa confirmed the existence of six different species. After morphological analysis and comparison with sequences available in GenBank, these species were named as follows: H. aspera, H. cervicornis, H. cf. musciformis, H. spinella, and two new species, H. flava Nauer, Cassano \& M.C. Oliveira and H. edeniana Nauer, Cassano \& M.C. Oliveira. Hypnea cervicornis, often considered as a later synonym of H. spinella, should be considered as a distinct species based on morphology and divergence of the three molecular markers used. Hypnea aspera is a new record for the Atlantic Ocean. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/01077-1 - Diversity of Hypnea genus(Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from São Paulo State based on molecular markers and morphology.
• Grantee: Natália Rodrigues Guimarães
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 07/51270-7 - Diversity of red macroalgae (Rhodophyta) of São Paulo State, Brazil, based on barcoding, morphology and geographic distribution (RHODO-SP)
• Grantee: Mariana Cabral de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants