Stauromenia australis, a new genus and species in the family Kallymeniaceae (Rhodophyta) from southern New Zealand

Abstract

D'Archino R., Nelson W.A. and Zuccarello G.C. 2012. Stauromenia australis, a new genus and species in the family Kallymeniaceae (Rhodophyta) from southern New Zealand. Phycologia 51: 451–460. DOI: 10.2216/11-87.1

Our survey of the bladed red algae in the family Kallymeniaceae (Rhodophyta) from New Zealand and its subantarctic islands uncovered a new lineage based on molecular results, which we described as the new genus and species Stauromenia australis. Examination of New Zealand herbarium collections also revealed a number of additional specimens from southern New Zealand and the subantarctic islands (Antipodes Is., Snares Is., Campbell Is., Auckland Is.) that belonged to this new taxon. Stauromenia had a foliose habit and typically grew subtidally on open, exposed rocky habitats. It had a multiaxial structure with a cortex composed of a few layers of ellipsoidal cells that decreased in size toward the cuticle, and it had a filamentous medulla with sparse medullary cells and large refractive cells. Carpogonial branches were three celled and borne on a supporting cell that also carried four or five multinucleate subsidiary cells. The auxiliary cell system was separate and consisted of the auxiliary cell and four to seven multinucleate subsidiary cells. During postfertilization development, typical connecting filaments were not formed, and the gonimoblast arose from vegetative cells in the proximity of the auxiliary cell system. The ostiolate cystocarps protruded and occurred on both sides of the blade. The tetrasporophyte was isomorphic with cruciate tetrasporangia, and the male structures were typical for the family. The postfertilization development of this new genus was different from other members of the Kallymeniaceae in which typical connecting filaments have been reported. This, along with its unique phylogenetic position, indicated that this was a novel genus from the Southern Hemisphere.

Key Words::

• COI
• Postfertilization
• Reproduction
• Taxonomy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Professors Max Hommersand and Showe-Mei Lin for constructive discussion of the manuscript and Chris Hepburn (Otago University), Sean Cooper, Debbie Freeman, Jim Fyfe, Don Neale and Nick Shears (Department of Conservation) for assistance in the field. We thank Jenn Dalen (WELT), Ewen Cameron (AK) and Ines Schoenberger (CHR) for assistance with herbarium specimens. This work was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology contract C01X0502 and NIWA Capability funding CF113353 (R.D.).

SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.2216/11-87.1.s1