Abstract
In the summer of 2008, immediately prior to the Beijing Olympics, a massive green tide of the genus Ulva covered the Qingdao coast of the Yellow Sea in China. Based on molecular analyses using the nuclear encoded rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the Qingdao strains dominating the green tide were reported to be included in a single phylogenetic clade, currently regarded as a single species. On the other hand, our detailed phylogenetic analyses of the clade, using a higher resolution DNA marker, suggested that two genetically separate entities could be included within the clade. However, speciation within the Ulva clade has not yet been examined. We examined the occurrence of an intricate speciation within the clade, including the Qingdao strains, via combined studies of culture, hybridization and phylogenetic analysis. The two entities separated by our phylogenetic analyses of the clade were simply distinguished as U. linza and U. prolifera morphologically by the absence or presence of branches in cultured thalli. The inclusion of sexual strains and several asexual strains were found in each taxon. Hybridizations among the sexual strains also supported the separation by a partial gamete incompatibility. The sexually reproducing Qingdao strains crossed with U. prolifera without any reproductive boundary, but a complete reproductive isolation to U. linza occurred by gamete incompatibility. The results demonstrate that the U. prolifera group includes two types of sexual strains distinguishable by crossing affinity to U. linza. Species identification within the Ulva clade requires high resolution DNA markers and/or hybridization experiments and is not possible by reliance on the ITS markers alone.
Highlights
Excessive growth of green macroalgae termed ‘‘green tides’’ have over the last four decades increasingly occurred in coastal areas worldwide, causing both ecological and economic impacts to coastal environments and human activities [1,2]
Division of the U. linza group and U. prolifera group was unclear on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) tree, the 5S rDNA spacer analyses clearly and consistently divided them into two groupings
The Qingdao strains with branches are categorized into U. prolifera, the degree of branches was denser than that of other strains of U. prolifera
Summary
Excessive growth of green macroalgae termed ‘‘green tides’’ have over the last four decades increasingly occurred in coastal areas worldwide, causing both ecological and economic impacts to coastal environments and human activities [1,2]. As the cost to manage the impact of the 2008 Qingdao bloom is estimated as more than U.S $100 million, proper management with efficient methods to suppress the Ulva growth is needed to prevent future massive blooms [6]. Green tides composed of different species have been found to have different ecological functions, and are causing specific spatiotemporal occurrences [10,11]. In order to understand the characteristics of green tides, a correct identification is important and it is an essential step to draw up an ecological profile of the species [4]
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