Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the marine algal order Gelidiales (Rhodophyta) from New South Wales, including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands

Brief description

Fifteen species in seven genera of the marine benthic red algal order Gelidiales are reported from the New South Wales coast including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Critical sampling, a re-examination of herbarium specimens filed in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and the University of Melbourne, and molecular sequencing of most of the species has determined that many of the previous identifications from this region of the Pacific were incorrect. Gelidium pusillum (Stackhouse) Le Jolis, once widely reported from this coast, is shown not to occur here and the specimens on which these misidentifications were made have proved to represent either new species or previously described species. Similarly, records of Gelidium australe J. Agardh have been found to represent misidentification of the formerly New Zealand endemic Gelidium allanii V.J.Chapman, and specimens identified as Gelidium caulacantheum J. Agardh actually represent the new species Gelidium hommersandiisp. nov. Previously recorded species verified in this study are Capreolia implexa Guiry & Womersley, Gelidiella acerosa (Forsskål) Feldmann & G.Hamel, Gelidium maidenii Lucas, Pterocladia lucida (Turner) J. Agardh, Pterocladiella caerulescens (Kützing) Santelices & Hommersand [as Pterocladia caerulescens (Kützing) Santelices], Pterocladiella capillacea (Gmelin) Santelices & Hommersand [as Pterocladia capillacea (Gmelin) Bornet], and Ptilophora pectinata (A. & E.S. Gepp) R.E.Norris. These species are described and illustrated in detail along with previously unreported reproductive structures. Three species are newly recorded for the New South Wales mainland [Parviphycus antipae Celan, Gelidium crinale (Turner) Gaillon, and Pterocladiella caloglossoides (Howe) Santelices], and two species (Gelidium isabelae W.R.Taylor and Gelidium allanii V.J.Chapman) represent new records for the Australian continent. In addition, three new species are described: Gelidium bernabei sp. nov., Gelidium declerckii sp. nov., and Gelidium hommersandii sp. nov.

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Full description

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the marine algal order Gelidiales (Rhodophyta) from New South Wales, including Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands - link to publication; access request required