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Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-28
Page range: 77–89
Abstract views: 20
PDF downloaded: 1

Genetic barcoding resolves the historically known red alga Champia parvula from southern New England, USA, as C. farlowii sp. nov.  (Champiaceae, Rhodymeniales)

Department of Biology, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
Department of Biology, Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106, USA
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
COI-5P Champia farlowii sp. nov. C. parvula Champiaceae New England rbcL Rhodophyta western Atlantic Ocean Algae

Abstract

Using mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL genetic markers, the red algal species historically known in southern New England, USA, as Champia parvula is found to be genetically distinct from the species to which it has historically been aligned. This necessitates the description of a new species, C. farlowii, for plants from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, USA. The new species is morphologically compared with true European C. parvula and congeners, especially those with similar features previously aligned under the same species name. Champia farlowii is a morphologically cryptic species, the sixth in the expanding C. parvula complex, with overlapping characteristic measurements despite differences at the range extremes, when compared to C. parvula.