title: Resolving cryptic species of Bossiella (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) using contemporary and historical DNA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Phenotypic plasticity and convergent evolution have long complicated traditional morphological taxonomy. Fortunately, DNA sequences provide an additional basis for comparison, independent of morphology. Most importantly, by obtaining DNA sequences from historical type specimens, we are now able to unequivocally match species names to genetic groups, often with surprising results.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an integrative taxonomic approach to identify and describe Northeast Pacific pinnately branched species in the red algal coralline genus Bossiella, for which traditional taxonomy recognized only one species, the generitype, Bossiella plumosa. We analyzed DNA sequences from historical type specimens and modern topotype specimens to assign species names and to identify genetic groups that were different and that required new names. Our molecular taxonomic assessment was followed by a detailed morphometric analysis of each species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study of B. plumosa revealed seven pinnately branched Bossiella species. Three species, B. frondescens, B. frondifera, and B. plumosa, were assigned names based on sequences from type specimens. The remaining four species, B. hakaiensis, B. manzae, B. reptans, and B. montereyensis, were described as new to science. In most cases, there was significant overlap of morphological characteristics among species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study underscores the pitfalls of relying upon morpho-anatomy alone to distinguish species and highlights our likely underestimation of species worldwide. Our integrative taxonomic approach can serve as a model for resolving the taxonomy of other plant and algal genera.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4 Hakai Institute, Pruth Harbour, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada V0P 1H0 katharine.hind@botany.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Katharine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hind
authors.affiliation: University Herbarium, Silva Center for Phycological Documentation, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building #2465, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 USA.
authors.forename: Kathy Ann
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Herbarium, 3280 Coker Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 USA.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gabrielson
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z4 Hakai Institute, Pruth Harbour, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada V0P 1H0.
authors.forename: Patrick T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Martone
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant
keywords: Bossiella; COI-5P; Corallina frondescens; coralline algae; cryptic species; integrative taxonomy; psbA; rbcL