Phylogenetic analyses of transcriptome data resolve familial assignments for genera of the red-algal Acrochaetiales-Palmariales Complex (Nemaliophycidae)

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of transcriptome data for representatives of the red algal Acrochaetiales-Palmariales Complex provided robust support for the assignment of genera to the constituent families. In the Acrochaetiales, the genera Acrochaetium, Grania, and an unnamed genus-level lineage (Acrochaetiac sp._1Aus) were assigned to the Acrochaetiaceae, while Audouinella is placed in a resurrected Audouinellaceae and Rhodochorton and Rhododrewia constitute the resurrected Rhodochortonaceae. For the Palmariales, transcriptome data solidly support the inclusion of Camontagnea and Rhodothamniella in the Rhodothamniellaceae, Meiodiscus and Rubrointrusa in the Meiodiscaceae, Rhodonematella and Rhodophysema in the Rhodophysemataceae, while Devaleraea and Palmaria remained in the Palmariaceae. These analyses, however, questioned the monophyly of Palmaria, which prompted a second round of analyses using eight common red algal phylogenetic markers and including a broader sampling of red algal genera in our analyses. These results supported transfer of Palmaria callophylloides and P. mollis to the genus Devaleraea necessitating new combinations, and further added the genus Halosaccion to the Palmariaceae and the genera Kallymenicola and Rhodophysemopsis to the Meiodiscaceae. Finally, DNA barcode (mitochondrial COI-5P) and ITS data were explored and supported the continued recognition of Palmaria palmata as a single species in the North Atlantic.