title: A molecular investigation of the genus Ecklonia (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) with special focus on the Southern Hemisphere.
abstract: Brown algae of the order Laminariales, commonly referred to as kelps, are the largest and most productive primary producers in the coastal inshore environment. The genus Ecklonia (Lessoniaceae, Phaeophyceae) consists of seven species with four species in the Northern Hemisphere and three in the Southern Hemisphere. It was recently transferred to the family Lessoniaceae based on phylogenetic analyses of nuclear and chloroplastic markers, though the type of the genus was not included and its relationship with allied genera Eckloniopsis and Eisenia remained unresolved. The present study is the first to produce a phylogeny focussed on the genus Ecklonia. It included sequences from nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplastic DNA, for most of the distribution range of the three current Southern Hemisphere species (Ecklonia radiata, Ecklonia maxima, and a sample of a putative Ecklonia brevipes specimen), sequences for East Asiatic species (Ecklonia cava, Ecklonia kurome, and Ecklonia stolonifera), as well as the closely related genera Eckloniopsis and Eisenia. Results confirmed E. radiata and E. maxima as two distinct species in South Africa, E. radiata as a single species throughout the Southern Hemisphere (in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand) and East Asiatic species as a distinct lineage from the Southern Hemisphere clade. Results further pointed out a close sister relationship between Eckloniopsis radicosa and two Eisenia species (including the type species: Eisenia arborea) to the genus Ecklonia suggesting that the genera Eckloniopsis and Eisenia are superfluous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012, South Africa.|Biological Sciences Department and Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rothman
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department and Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lydiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattio
authors.affiliation: UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wernberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay, 8012, South Africa.|Biological Sciences Department and Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Ikarashi-2, Nishi-Ku, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uwai
authors.affiliation: UWA Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mohring
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department and Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bolton
keywords: Ecklonia; ITS; Lessoniaceae; atp8; kelp forests; phylogeny; rbcL; trnWI