Abstract
Milstein D. and Saunders G.W. 2012. DNA barcoding of Canadian Ahnfeltiales (Rhodophyta) reveals a new species – Ahnfeltia borealis sp. nov. Phycologia 51: 247–259. DOI: 10.2216/11-40.1The red algal genus Ahnfeltia has only two described species in Canada, Ahnfeltia fastigiata and Ahnfeltia plicata, occurring along the North Pacific and North Atlantic coasts, respectively. However, during an ongoing molecular-based floristic survey of Canadian marine algae using the mitochondrial 5′ end of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene as a screening tool, cryptic diversity was uncovered, indicating the presence of four genetic lineages. These genetic clusters were further characterized using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers and the variable domain V of the plastid large subunit (23S) ribosomal gene (universal plastid amplicon), as well as morphological and anatomical observations. Our data indicate the presence of a third species of Ahnfeltia, A. borealis sp. nov., which is typically subarctic in its distribution and intermediate in many key anatomical features between A. fastigiata and A. plicata.
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