The Porphyra lanceolata–P. pseudolanceolata (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) complex unmasked: recognition of new species based on isozymes, morphology, chromosomes and distributions

Abstract

At present, twolanceolate species of the marine alga Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) are recognized to occur along the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to California: Porphyra lanceolata (Setchell et Hus in Hus) G.M. Smith in G.M. Smith et Hollenberg, and P. pseudolanceolata Krishnamurthy. Comparisons of specimens attributed to these species, using starch gel electrophoresis of proteins, morphology, chromosomes, and vertical, seasonal, and geographical distributions, reveal a complex of at least five species. In addition to recognizing P. lanceolata and P. pseudolanceolata, we propose Porphyrafallax Lindstrom et Cole subsp. conwayae subsp. nov. and Porphyra mumfordii sp. nov. from British Columbia south possibly to California and Porphyra hiberna sp. nov. from central California. Porphyra fallax subsp. conwayae is found in the mid-intertidal zone in spring whereas the other entities occur in the upper intertidal zone in winter. Porphyra lanceolata can occur year-round in the mid- to upper intertidal zone. Porphyra hiberna, P. lanceolata and P. pseudolanceolata have haploid chromosome numbers of n = 3; P. mumfordii has n = 5, and P. fallax subsp. conwayae has n = 2. The occurrence of at least one additional species in this complex is acknowledged.