Pterocladiella (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) species of Brazil including morphological studies of Pterocladiella media and a reassessment of Pterocladiella taylorii

Abstract

:Seven species of the economically important agarophyte genus Pterocladiella were previously reported from Brazil: P. australafricanensis, P. bartlettii, P. beachiae, P. caerulescens, P. capillacea, P. sanctarum and P. taylorii. Only P. australafricanensis, P. bartlettii, P. beachiae and P. capillacea were previously confirmed by molecular data. This study surveyed Pterocladiella species from Brazil using both morphological and molecular analyses. DNA bar coding and phylogenetic analyses were carried out with mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL markers. Both molecular and morphological data confirmed the presence of five species in Brazil: P. australafricanensis, P. bartlettii, P. beachiae, P. capillacea and a new record of P. media. Pterocladiella beachiae and P. bartlettii are common intertidal species along Brazilian coasts, and they were the only species found along the northeast coast. The diversity of Pterocladiella species on southeast coasts is higher, and all species were found there. The presence of P. beachiae and P. australafricanensis, which are cryptic species within the P. caerulescens species complex, suggests that the latter may not be present in Brazil. Previously reported P. caerulescens specimens problaby represent P. beachiae because it was widespread along the Brazilian coast and P. australafricanensis was rare. Pterocladiella capillacea was common but restricted to the southeast coast. Pterocladiella taylorii is a synonym of P. bartlettii based on morphological features and molecular data. Pterocladiella media is a new record for Brazil, and the first detailed morphological study of reproductive specimens in this species was made.