Ulva sapora sp. nov., an abundant tubular species of Ulva (Ulvales) from the tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract:

Previously defined by molecular studies undertaken in Japan and Australia as Ulva sp. 3 and in Hawaii as Ulva OTU6, Ulva sapora sp. nov. is described using combined morphological, anatomical, reproductive and molecular studies on 46 specimens from five localities on the tropical and subtropical east Australian coast. Ulva sapora is characterised by its unique internal transcribed spacer sequence and the following combination of characters: the main axis of the unbranched or branched filiform thallus increasing in breadth from the basal to the upper thallus, cells in surface view unordered except for short rows in some areas of the thallus, cells containing a single chloroplast covering half to the whole outer cell wall and containing 2–10 pyrenoids and many starch granules and reproduction by biflagellate zoids exhibiting differing phototactic responses. The new species is the result of the first critical taxonomic appraisal of the species of Ulva of the poorly investigated tropical east Australian marine macroalgal flora. Ulva sapora was the most abundant filiform species of Ulva in the region, accounting for 32% of the specimens collected during the study.

Key Words::

• Aquaculture
• Chlorophyta
• ITS
• Macroalgae
• Morphology
• Seaweed
• Taxonomy
• Tropical Pacific Ocean
• Ulva sapora

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Good Fortune Bay Fisheries, Pacific Reef Fisheries and Bribie Island Research Centre (Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) for allowing collection of algae from their ponds; Ailsa Holland, Megan Prance and Will Smith of the Queensland Herbarium for assistance with lodging herbarium specimens and photographing type material; and Maria Martinez for assistance with sample preparation. This research was supported by a Queensland Accelerate Fellowship to C.C. from the Queensland Government in conjunction with MBD Energy Limited and Pacific Reef Fisheries as Industry Co-Sponsors. This research is part of the MBD Energy Research and Development program for the Integrated Production of Macroalgae.

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.2216/15-114.1.s1.

Corrigendum

Correction to the paper by Phillips J.A., Lawton R.J., Denys R., Paul N.A. & Carl C. 2016. Ulva sapora, a new abundant tubular species of Ulva (Ulvales) from the tropical Pacific Ocean. Phycologia 55 (1): 55–64. The taxon which was described as Ulva sapora J.A. Phillips, R.J. Lawton & C. Carl had previously been described as Ulva tepida Masakiyo & S. Shimada [Masakiyo,Y. & Shimada 2014. Species diversity of the genus Ulva (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) in Japanese waters, with special reference to Ulva tepida Masakiyo et S. Shimada sp. nov. Bulletin of the National Science Museum Series B (Botany) 40(1): 1–13]. The valid name for the taxon is Ulva tepida Masakiyo & S. Shimada which has priority. Ulva sapora is a synonym of Ulva tepida.