Article
Plant Sciences
Ganies Riza Aristya, Wun-Ruei Chang, Silvia Fontana, Orlando Necchi, Shao-Lun Liu
Summary: In this study, we described two new species of the genus Kumanoa - K. taiwanensis and K. yuanyangensis. Through molecular evidence and morphological characteristics, we confirmed the establishment of these two new species. This study expands the known diversity of Kumanoa and provides new insights into their biogeography.
Article
Plant Sciences
Masahiro Suzuki, Taiju Kitayama
Summary: A new species of Fredericqia from the Choshi Peninsula, Japan has been described based on morphological and molecular analyses, with unique characteristics such as a flattened incurved thallus and marginal proliferations. Molecular analysis indicates that this new species, named Fredericqia chiharae, belongs to the genus Fredericqia and is distinct from other species within the genus.
Article
Plant Sciences
Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: Cryptic diversity is common among marine macroalgae, and the use of molecular tools has led to the discovery of many new species. This study aimed to resolve the taxonomy of a complex of species within the turf-forming red alga Polysiphonia scopulorum, as well as related species, using both molecular and morphological information. The researchers found multiple new species and genus assignments within this complex, highlighting the importance of molecular tools in accurately identifying and classifying marine macroalgae.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Danilo E. Bustamante, Martha S. Calderon, Andres Mansilla
Summary: Here we describe the new species Devaleraea yagan based on multilocus phylogeny and confirm the low genetic divergences in palmariaceaean species using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA).
Article
Plant Sciences
Antony Otinga Oteng'o, Tae Oh Cho, Boo Yeon Won
Summary: This study describes two new species, Endoplura jejuensis and E. koreana, from Korea based on molecular and morphological analyses. Phylogenetic analysis shows that they are closely related to E. aurea from Japan. E. jejuensis is characterized by small light to dark brown thalli, while E. koreana has larger olive or yellowish-brown thalli.
Article
Plant Sciences
Svetlana Averina, Elena Polyakova, Ekaterina Senatskaya, Alexander Pinevich
Summary: Several strains of unicellular cyanobacteria originally identified as Synechocystis sp. from St. Petersburg State University culture collection have been reclassified into a new genus Altericista, proposing three new species. Altericista, morphologically similar to Synechocysis, is distinct in its ability to produce accessory chlorophylls d and f in cultures exposed to far-red light, showing ecological, biochemical, and physiological differences from Synechocystis.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mark A. Buchheim, Ashley Silver, Haley Johnson, Richard Portman, Matthew B. Toomey
Summary: A large amount of research has focused on commercializing carotenoids produced by Haematococcus, but without a proper phylogenetic assessment. The existence of cryptic diversity in the genus can complicate pigment studies. By analyzing molecular markers and conducting morphological studies, we identified a new species, H. privus, exclusively found in North America. Our findings also suggest that certain morphological traits can be helpful in distinguishing different Haematococcus lineages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul W. Gabrielson, Jeffery R. Hughey, Viviana Pena, Joseph L. Richards, Gary W. Saunders, Brenton Twist, Tracy Farr, Wendy A. Nelson
Summary: To resolve the uncertainty around taxonomic classification of Sporolithon species, targeted PCR sequencing was conducted on historical and recently collected specimens. The results confirmed the existence of distinct species and identified previously misclassified specimens. DNA sequencing of type specimens of coralline species was shown to be the most reliable method for accurate naming.
Article
Plant Sciences
Masahiro Suzuki, Ryuta Terada
Summary: The study identified a deep-water species of Rhodymenia prostrata as a new species in the genus Halopeltis, which was named Halopeltis tanakae. This new species, characterized by specific anatomical features, was found in the northwestern Pacific and represents the second species of the genus in the region.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Meng-Chou Lee, Han-Yang Yeh
Summary: The newly discovered Taiwanese alga Colaconema formosanum is a new species associated with economically important local macroalgae, confirmed through morphological and molecular analysis.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jia-Jia Chen, Hui Feng, Jian Yu, Wenwu Ye, Xiaobo Zheng
Summary: The novel species Pythium huanghuaiense is a pathogen of soybean, closely related to species in clade F of the genus Pythium. It is characterized by relatively small sporangia and plerotic or nearly plerotic and thin-walled oospores.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gina A. Tonicelli, Maria Emilia Croce, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Suzanne Fredericq, David Wilson Freshwater, Maria Cecilia Gauna, Elisa R. Parodi, Heroen Verbruggen, Max H. Hommersand
Summary: This study used DNA sequences and morphological observations to confirm that Cystoclonium obtusangulum actually consists of two distinct species, leading to the proposal of a new genus name Meridionella. These two species are morphologically similar but have different distributions, one found in South America and the Falkland Islands, and the other occurring in Antarctic waters.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Antony Otinga Oteng'o, Boo Yeon Won, Tae Oh Cho
Summary: The study describes two new species, Endoplura gyeokpoensis and Endoplura limpeticola, from Korea, and distinguishes them from other known species based on molecular and morphological analyses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ivan Rodriguez-Bujan, Manuel Pimentel, Pilar Diaz-Tapia
Summary: The use of molecular tools in red algal diversity surveys often reveals the existence of undescribed species. We report a new Macaronesian turf-forming red alga in the genus Melanothamnus. This new species differs from its congeners by sequence divergence in the rbcL gene and is suggested to be endemic to Macaronesia.
CRYPTOGAMIE ALGOLOGIE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
T. S. Garcia, Christina Bock, Inessa Lacativa Bagatini, Naiara Carolina Pereira Archanjo, Celia Leite Sant'anna, Armando Augusto Henriques Vieira
Summary: The simple morphology of Selenastraceae family members in freshwater phytoplankton has led to misidentifications, but molecular tools are helping to untangle their phylogeny and reveal new genera and species. The study introduces a new species, Viridiparva madeirensis, within Selenastraceae with unique characteristics and highlights the importance of revising genera within the family. The research contributes to clarifying the phylogeny and taxonomy of Selenastraceae and adds genetic sequences of neglected nanophytoplankton to GenBank.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Kshitij Tandon, Marisa M. Pasella, Cintia Iha, Francesco Ricci, Juntong Hu, Charles J. O'Kelly, Monica Medina, Michael Kuhl, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: Ostreobium is a siphonous green alga that burrows into calcium carbonate substrates and forms green bands on coral skeletons. It plays a major role in carbonate reef bioerosion and contributes to the coral's nutritional needs. This review summarizes knowledge on Ostreobium's biology, including its morphology, biodiversity, photosynthesis, bioerosion mechanisms, and its role in the coral holobiont.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Richard Wetherbee, Trevor T. Bringloe, Allison van de Meene, Robert A. Andersen, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: Through the study of marine heterokont algae collected from intertidal pools in Australia, we discovered seven new genera of algae, including three new scientific species. By analyzing the genetic sequences, we identified three new species. This study provides evidence for the diversity of heterokont algae and supports the use of an external membrane as a defining morphological feature.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Ivan Rodriguez-Bujan, Christine A. Maggs, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: This study combines molecular and morphological analyses to study red algal taxa. It finds that populations of Symphyocladiella parasitica from northern and southern Europe represent different species. A new species, Symphyocladiella arecina sp. nov., is proposed for samples from southern Europe, and a new genus, Deltalsia, is proposed for the British samples.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Francesco Ricci, Kshitij Tandon, Maria Mosshammer, Ellie H. -J. Cho, Linda L. Blackall, Michael Kuhl, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: In this study, the researchers used chemical imaging and microbiome characterization to investigate the impact of physicochemical gradients on the coral skeleton microbiome. They found that the microbial community in the coral skeleton was influenced by the physicochemical environment, and the microbiome composition was linked to the abiotic conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Wendy A. Nelson, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: DNA sequencing was used to study the taxonomy of two Australian red algal species, one of which was found to be identical to the European Aphanocladia stichidiosa. However, it was unexpectedly classified in the Lophurella genus rather than Aphanocladia. Another Australian species was described as L. pseudocorticata sp. nov. The study highlights the importance of using phylogenetic approaches to identify and determine the native ranges of introduced species.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
B. L. D. Uthpala Pushpakumara, Kshitij Tandon, Anusuya Willis, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: This study focuses on the bacterial communities associated with cultured strains of 5 Ostreobium clades using 16S rRNA sequencing. The research reveals the preferential associations between Ostreobium and 34 bacterial taxa, which are also present in their natural environment. The study also shows a significant congruence between the Ostreobium phylogeny and the community composition of its tightly associated microbiome.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lydia Png-Gonzalez, Robert Comas-Gonzalez, Matias Calvo-Manazza, Guillermo Follana-Berna, Enric Ballesteros, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Jesus M. Falcon, J. Enrique Garcia Raso, Serge Gofas, Marcos Gonzalez-Porto, Eduardo Lopez, Alfonso A. Ramos-Espla, Eva Velasco, Aina Carbonell
Summary: The introduction of new non-indigenous species in Spanish marine waters was studied. National baseline inventories were compiled and updated for the three subregions, and a total of 574 species were identified. The majority of these species were invertebrates and primary producers. The highest percentage of alien species was reported in the Bay of Biscay-Iberian Coast, followed by the Western Mediterranean Sea and Macaronesia. There were more cryptogenic species in the Western Mediterranean Sea compared to the other two subregions. The pathway with the highest number of records was 'transport-stowaway', followed by 'transport-contaminant' related to mariculture.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cristina Pineiro-Corbeira, Sara Barrientos, Isabella Provera, Manuel E. Garcia, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Viviana Pena, Ignacio Barbara, Rodolfo Barreiro
Summary: This study highlights the impact of kelp forest decline on the macroalgal understorey, showing that traditional alpha-diversity indicators may not detect significant differences between healthy and degraded reefs. Instead, small-scale spatial beta-diversity decreases significantly due to deforestation, indicating a more comprehensive assessment of the consequences of kelp forest decline.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maren Preuss, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Heroen Verbruggen, Giuseppe C. Zuccarello
Summary: This study assembled and annotated plastid genomes from parasitic red algae and found similar plastid genomes to free-living host species, possible gene loss patterns, and the subsumption of the genus.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: Cryptic diversity is common among marine macroalgae, and the use of molecular tools has led to the discovery of many new species. This study aimed to resolve the taxonomy of a complex of species within the turf-forming red alga Polysiphonia scopulorum, as well as related species, using both molecular and morphological information. The researchers found multiple new species and genus assignments within this complex, highlighting the importance of molecular tools in accurately identifying and classifying marine macroalgae.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Sofie Vranken, Marine Robuchon, Stefanie Dekeyzer, Ignacio Barbara, Inka Bartsch, Aurelie Blanfune, Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Wim Decock, Christophe Destombe, Bruno de Reviers, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Anne Herbst, Romain Julliard, Rolf Karez, Priit Kersen, Stacy A. Krueger-Hadfield, Ralph Kuhlenkamp, Akira F. Peters, Viviana Pena, Cristina Pineiro-Corbeira, Fabio Rindi, Florence Rousseau, Jan Rueness, Hendrik Schubert, Kjersti Sjotun, Marta Sanson, Dan Smale, Thierry Thibaut, Myriam Valero, Leen Vandepitte, Bart Vanhoorne, Alba Verges, Marc Verlaque, Christophe Vieira, Line Le Gall, Frederik Leliaert, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: The study focuses on analyzing the biological and ecological traits of European seaweeds and organizing the data within a standardized framework. A trait database containing 45,175 records for 21 traits was created, providing valuable information for future research on seaweed diversity, evolution, and response to global changes. The data are publicly accessible and will contribute to the development of ecosystem models and marine conservation policies.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Kshitij Tandon, Marisa M. Pasella, Cintia Iha, Francesco Ricci, Juntong Hu, Charles J. O'Kelly, Monica Medina, Michael Kuehl, Heroen Verbruggen
Summary: Ostreobium is a green alga that lives in calcium carbonate substrates and can survive in low light and low oxygen conditions. It is a major contributor to the erosion of coral reefs and plays a role in the nutrition of corals. Understanding the biology of Ostreobium and its role in coral reefs is important for the study and conservation of these ecosystems.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Luna M. van der Loos, Quinten Bafort, Samuel Bosch, Enric Ballesteros, Ignacio Barbara, Estibaliz Berecibar, Aurelie Blanfune, Kenny Bogaert, Silke Bouckenooghe, Charles-Francois Boudouresque, Juliet Brodie, Ester Cecere, Pilar Diaz-Tapia, Aschwin H. Engelen, Karl Gunnarson, Soha Hamdy Shabaka, Razy Hoffman, Vivian Husa, Alvaro Israel, Mart Karremans, Jessica Knoop, Line Le Gall, Christine A. Maggs, Frederic Mineur, Manuela Parente, Frank Perk, Antonella Petrocelli, Conxi Rodriguez-Prieto, Sandrine Ruitton, Marta Sanson, Ester A. Serrao, Adriano Sfriso, Kjersti Sjotun, Valerie Stiger-Pouvreau, Gwladys Surget, Ergun Taskin, Thierry Thibaut, Konstantinos Tsiamis, Lotte Van de Weghe, Marc Verlaque, Frederique Viard, Sofie Vranken, Frederik Leliaert, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: Effective monitoring of non-indigenous seaweeds is important, but there is still uncertainty about the status of many species. This study analysed the status of presumed non-indigenous seaweed species in the Mediterranean Sea, Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and Macaronesia. A list of 140 undisputed non-indigenous species was produced, while the status of 87 species remained unclear. The study also found significant variation in the diversity of non-indigenous species between geographic regions. The current measures and policies are insufficient to battle the introduction and spread of non-indigenous species in the study area.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Vinicius W. Salazar, Babak Shaban, Maria del Mar Quiroga, Robert Turnbull, Edoardo Tescari, Vanessa Rossetto Marcelino, Heroen Verbruggen, Kim-Anh LeCao
Summary: Recent advances in bioinformatics and high-throughput sequencing have enabled the recovery of genomes from environmental samples. Metaphor is a fully automated workflow for genome-resolved metagenomics, offering flexible approaches for assembly and binning, and generating performance evaluation reports.
