title: IDENTIFICATION OF CRYPTIC SPECIES IN THE LESSONIA NIGRESCENS COMPLEX (PHAEOPHYCEAE, LAMINARIALES)(1).
abstract: The kelp Lessonia nigrescens Bory is the most ecologically and economically important seaweed in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats along the temperate Pacific South American coasts. Recent molecular studies suggest the existence of two lineages, one (northern lineage) from 17° S to 30° S and a second (central lineage) from 29° S to 41° S. To identify and name these lineages we performed morphological, nomenclatural and field studies. Four external and three internal anatomical traits permitted a morphological separation of the two lineages. The internal structure of both lineages was different from the isolectotype of Lessonia nigrescens. It is therefore concluded that the name Lessonia nigrescens should not be used for the Chilean material. Chordaria spicata Suhr appears as the oldest available name for the central lineage, while Lessonia berteroana Montagne is the oldest name for the northern lineage. In both cases, the type material consisted of small-sized, apical branches of larger plants. The new combination Lessonia spicata (Suhr) Santelices is proposed for the central lineage and we reinstate Lessonia berteroana for the northern lineage. Laminaria scissa Suhr is reduced to synonym of L. spicata. Representative specimens of Lessonia nigrescens were not found during new visits to its type locality in Cape Horn and along Chile. Future studies should verify the status of this species.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hiriart-Bertrand
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Reviers
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 653, Santiago, ChileCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, ChileMuseum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Department Systematique et Evolution, Batiment de Cryptogamie, 57, rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, Cedex 05, FranceCenter for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity and Departmento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Bernabé
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santelices
keywords: Chordaria spicata; Lessonia; cryptic species; kelps