Identity and phylogenetic placement of Spirogyra species (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta) from California streams and elsewhere1. Issue 3 (10th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stancheva, Rosalina; Hall, John D.; McCourt, Richard M.; Sheath, Robert G.; Gabrielson, P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of phycology. Volume 49:Issue 3(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 588
• Page End: 607
• Publication Date: 2013-05-10
• Subjects: Algae -- Periodicals; 579.8
• DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3646

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="jpy12070-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Diversity of the filamentous green algae in the genus <italic>Spirogyra</italic> (Zygnematophyceae) was investigated from more than 1, 200 stream samples from California. We identified 12 species of <italic>Spirogyra</italic> not previously known for California (CA), including two species new to science, <italic>Spirogyra californica</italic> sp. nov. and <italic>Spirogyra juliana</italic> sp. nov. Environmental preferences of the Californian species are discussed in the light of their restricted distribution to stream habitats with contrasting nutrient levels. We also investigated the systematic relationships of <italic>Spirogyra</italic> species from several continents using the chloroplast‐encoded genes ribulose‐1, 5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/hydrogenase large subunit (<italic>rbcL</italic>) and the beta subunit of the ATP synthase (<italic>atpB</italic>). Californian species were positioned in most major clades of <italic>Spirogyra</italic>. The phylogeny of <italic>Spirogyra</italic> and its taxonomic implications are discussed, such as the benefits of combining structural and molecular data for more accurate and consistent species identification. Considerable infraspecific genetic variation of globally distributed <italic>Spirogyra</italic> species was observed across continental scales. This finding suggests that structurally similar species from distant regions may be genetically dissimilar and that <italic>Spirogyra</italic> may contain a large number of cryptic species. Correlating the morphological and genetic variation within the genus will be a major challenge for future researchers.</p> </abstract>