Grateloupia jejuensis (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta): a new species previously confused with G. elata and G. cornea in Korea

doi:2013.28.3.233

Algae > Volume 28(3); 2013 > Article

Algae 2013;28(3): 233-240. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2013.28.3.233

Su Yeon Kim¹, Eun Gyu Han², Myung Sook Kim²^,*, Jung Kwang Park¹ and Sung Min Boo¹

¹Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea
²Department of Biology and Research Institute for Basic Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea

*Corresponding Author

Email: myungskim@jejunu.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

Despite specimens’ large size and ease of collection in northeast Asian waters, the species diversity of the genus Grateloupia still needs more research in Korea. We investigated plastid rbcL sequences and carried out detailed morphological observation on flattened halymeniacean red alga collected in twelve locations around Korea and Japan. We describe Grateloupia jejuensis sp. nov. based on the distinct clade with high support in our rbcL tree. Grateloupia jejuensis is characterized by solitary or caespitose habit and flattened thalli with discoid holdfast, cartilaginous texture, and blunt or bifid axis. Grateloupia jejuensis was distantly related to G. elata and G. cornea, which have been morphologically confused with the former, and it formed a sister relationship with Prionitis filiformis from California, USA in the rbcL tree.

Key words: Grateloupia; Grateloupia jejuensis; Halymeniales; Korea; new species; Rhodophyta