A revision of the red algal genus Ahnfeltia on the Russian coast of the North Pacific

ABSTRACT

Until recently, three species of the genus Ahnfeltia were recorded from the Russian Pacific coast: A. fastigiata, A. plicata and A. tobuchiensis. A morphological analysis and DNA-barcoding of Ahnfeltia have revealed another species occurring in this area, A. borealis. The endemic taxon of this region, A. tobuchiensis, is conspecific with A. fastigiata and should be reduced to the varietal level, A. fastigiata var. tobuchiensis, as was previously suggested by Maggs et al. The occurrence of A. plicata in the Northwest Pacific requires confirmation by molecular and morphological data.

KEYWORDS:

• Ahnfeltia
• Ahnfeltiales
• COI-5ʹ
• DNA barcoding
• Russian Far East

Acknowledgements

We thank A.V. Klimova and T.A. Klochkova from the Kamchatka State Technical University who provided the opportunity to work with the herbarium deposited at the University.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

A.V. Skriptsova: original concept, seaweed collection, light microscopy, analysis of molecular data, manuscript preparation. G.G. Zhigadlova: collection of seaweeds, morphological analysis, manuscript preparation.

Supplementary material

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