Long distance kelp rafting impacts seaweed biogeography in the Northeast Pacific: the kelp conveyor hypothesis. Issue 6 (16th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saunders, Gary W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of phycology. Volume 50:Issue 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 968
• Page End: 974
• Publication Date: 2014-10-16
• Subjects: Algae -- Periodicals; 579.8
• DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3646

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jpy12237-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Routine DNA barcoding of the Haida Gwaii seaweed flora revealed "endemic species" attributed initially to this region's past as a glacial refugium. However, subsequent barcode records from central California rapidly eroded this list leaving species characterized by disjunct distributions (DD) between California and Haida Gwaii. This observation prompted a more detailed look at species for California and British Columbia and revealed that 33 of 180 DNA‐barcoded genetic groups in common between these regions (~18%) predominantly displayed DD between California and northern British Columbia. A previous discovery that a red abalone shell found in Haida Gwaii (far north of its range) had a float‐bearing kelp (<italic>Nereocystis luetkeana</italic>) holdfast attached to it prompted a closer consideration of the COI‐5P barcode data in support of a "kelp conveyor hypothesis." The hypothesis posits that there has been a net migration of Californian species to northern British Columbia the vector being species growing on substrata carried along with kelp rafts on the winter Davidson Current.</p> </abstract>