title: A phylogenetic re-appraisal of the family Liagoraceae sensu lato (Nemaliales, Rhodophyta) based on sequence analyses of two plastid genes and postfertilization development.
abstract: The marine red algal family Liagoraceae sensu lato is shown to be polyphyletic based on analyses of a combined rbcL and psaA data set and the pattern of carposporophyte development. Fifteen of eighteen genera analyzed formed a monophyletic lineage that included the genus Liagora. Nemalion did not cluster with Liagoraceae sensu stricto, and Nemaliaceae is reinstated, characterized morphologically by the formation of the primary gonimolobes by longitudinal divisions of the gonimoblast initial. Yamadaella and Liagoropsis, previously placed in the Dermonemataceae, are shown to be independent lineages and are recognized as two new families Yamadaellaceae and Liagoropsidaceae. Yamadaellaceae is characterized by two gonimoblast initials cut off bilaterally from the fertilized carpogonium and diffusely spreading gonimoblast filaments. Liagoropsidaceae is characterized by at least three gonimoblast initials cut off by longitudinal septa from the fertilized carpogonium. In contrast, Liagoraceae sensu stricto is characterized by a single gonimoblast initial cut off transversely or diagonally from the fertilized carpogonium. Reproductive features, such as diffuse gonimoblasts and unfused carpogonial branches following postfertilization, appear to have evolved on more than one occasion in the Nemaliales and are therefore not taxonomically diagnostic at the family level, although they may be useful in recognizing genera.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 20224, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Showe-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, Girona, 17071, Spain.
authors.forename: Conxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Prieto
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.|Western Australian Herbarium, Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Bentley Delivery Centre, Locked Bag 104, Bentley, Western Australia, 6983, Australia.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.affiliation: The AlgaeBase Foundation, c/o Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Guiry
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Nouméa, 98848, New Caledonia.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Payri
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 14-901, Kilbirnie, Wellington, 6241, New Zealand.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92-019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Wendy A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shao-Lun
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Liagoraceae sensu stricto; Liagoropsidaceae fam. nov.; Nemaliaceae; Yamadaellaceae fam. nov; carposporophyte development; molecular phylogeny; psaA; rbcL