Abstract
Multivariate morphometrics and image analysis were used to determine the number of well-distinguished taxa in the freshwater red algal family Lemaneaceae (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from North America. Length, width, stalking, branching, presence of axial cortical filaments and spermatangial sorus size and shape were assessed. Two genera, Lemanea Bory and Paralemanea (P.C. Silva) stat. nov. (= Lemanea subgenus Paralemanea P.C. Silva), were recognized using internal anatomical and spermatangial features. Lemanea has no cortical filaments around the central axis, T- or L-shaped ray cells closely applied to the outer cortex and spermatangia in patches, whereas Paralemanea has cortical filaments around the central axis, simple ray cells that do not abut the outer cortex, and nodal spermatangial rings. Cluster analysis, based on the Gower similarity coefficient, revealed six distinct morphological entities, three with characteristics of Lemanea and three with characteristics of Paralemanea. These entities were statistically related to the type specimens of the species recorded from North America. In Lemanea, L. borealis Atkinson and L. fluviatilis (Linnaeus) C. Agardh were recognized. In addition, a new variety of L. fucina Bory was described, L. fucina var. parva, which is significantly shorter (x̄ = 6.0 cm) than the nominate variety (x̄ = 15.9 cm). In Paralemanea, the following species were recognized: P. catenata (Kützing) comb. nov. (Basionym: L. catenata Kützing), synonymous with L. nodosa Kützing and L. pleocarpa Atkinson; P. annulata (Kützing) comb. nov. (Basionym: L. annulata Kützing), synonymous with L. australis Atkinson and L. grandis (Wolle) Atkinson; and P. mexicana (Kützing) comb. nov. (Basionym: L. mexicana Kützing), synonymous with L. feldmannii Sánchez-Rodríguez et Huerta. There was no obvious separation of species on the basis of physical and chemical parameters of the sampled streams, but there were geographical distribution differences among taxa.
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