Lophosiphonia obscura and Polysiphonia sukatarii sp. nov. (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) from mesohaline Lake Bafa, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Species discovery is facilitated by the application of molecular tools and the exploration of poorly studied habitats. Recent surveys in Bafa Lake, Turkey, which experienced a transition from oligo- to mesohaline conditions during the last 40 years, led to the finding of two species of the genera Lophosiphonia and Polysiphonia. Our molecular and morphological study showed that one of the species corresponded to L. obscura, while the other differs from previously described Polysiphonia species and is proposed as P. sukatarii sp. nov. The new species differs from related congeners by a rbcL sequence divergence ≥5.8% and is morphologically distinguished by having four pericentral cells and trichoblasts arranged several segments apart. Lophosiphonia obscura, and its closely related species L. hemisphaerica comb. nov. and L. boldii comb. nov., have been previously found in similar habitats in Europe and Atlantic North America. Along with its record from Bafa Lake, P. sukatarii sp. nov. has been discovered in open shore algal turfs from the Canary Islands, suggesting that it is a euryhaline species with probably a wide distribution. Our work highlights that poorly studied habitats still harbour undiscovered species and additional surveys are necessary to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the macroalgal diversity.

KEYWORDS:

• Algal turfs
• Canary Islands
• Mediterranean Sea
• Phylogeny
• Salinity

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by computational facilities of Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia (CESGA). We are grateful to M. Guiry for his assistance with nomenclatural issues.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [Project no: 114Y249]. PDT was supported by Xunta de Galicia ‘Axudas de apoio á etapa de formación posdoutoral’ [grant ED481D/ 2017/011]; and ‘Talento Senior’ [grant 03IN858A2019-1630129].