Agissea teruruhau sp. nov. (Peyssonneliales, Rhodophyta) and epiphyte Piriora waewaeiti gen. & sp. nov. (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) from Manawatāwhi, New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Phylogenetic analyses resolved that specimens from Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands in northern New Zealand, formerly identified as Sonderophycus coriaceus, belong to the genus Agissea (Peyssonneliales). This species is dark red, prostrate and robust, with leathery, fan-shaped lobes and is described here as Agissea teruruhau. It was found to serve as a host to a very small red algal epiphyte described here as Piriora waewaiti gen. & sp. nov. While phylogenetic analyses have placed Piriora in the Gigartinales, the familial placement of this genus has been unable to be resolved. Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands is a group of small islands known to harbour a rich marine biota with many endemic species, and the description of these taxa has increased the reported endemic algal flora of the islands. In addition, the phylogenetic analyses have confirmed the presence of Olokunia boudouresquei and a further three species of Peyssonneliales in the New Zealand flora, belonging to the genera Olokunia, Peyssonnelia and Seiria.

KEYWORDS:

• Endemic genus and species
• Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands
• Ngāti Kuri
• Olokunia boudouresquei
• Peyssonnelia
• Seiria

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Research was undertaken consistent with Ngāti Kuri’s Pou Taiao Environmental Management 2018 and the Living Protocol agreement between the Ngāti Kuri Trust Board and Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum. Samples were collected during the Manawatāwhi Three Kings Expedition in 2013 led by Tāmaki Paenga Hira. We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the Ngāti Kuri Trust Board and Huia Murupaenga, for their support, guidance and for sharing their mātauranga o Ngāti Kuri (knowledge of Ngāti Kuri). We would like to particularly thank all who participated in the rimurimu meeting in June 2019; the staff of Tāmaki Paenga Hira, particularly Tom Trnski (leader of the expeditions to the islands), Yumiko Baba and Ella Rawcliffe (AK – Auckland Museum Herbarium) and Bridget Hatton (WELT – Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa). We also thank Erika MacKay for preparation of the plates; Roberta D’Archino and Kareen Schnabel for field images, and Roberta for additional sequence data of Peyssonneliales.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2022.2132054

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by NIWA SSIF Coasts & Oceans, Marine Biodiversity.