title: PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF PSEUDOCHLORODESMIS STRAINS REVEALS CRYPTIC DIVERSITY ABOVE THE FAMILY LEVEL IN THE SIPHONOUS GREEN ALGAE (BRYOPSIDALES, CHLOROPHYTA)(1).
abstract: The genus Pseudochlorodesmis (Bryopsidales) is composed of diminutive siphons of extreme morphological simplicity. The discovery of Pseudochlorodesmis-like juveniles in more complex Bryopsidales (e.g., the Halimeda microthallus stage) jeopardized the recognition of this genus. Confronted with this uncertainty, taxonomists transferred many simple siphons into a new genus, Siphonogramen. In this study, we used a multimarker approach to clarify the phylogenetic and taxonomic affinities of the Pseudochlorodesmis-Siphonogramen (PS) complex within the more morphologically complex bryopsidalean taxa. Our analyses reveal a new layer of diversity largely distinct from the lineages containing the structurally complex genera. The PS complex shows profound cryptic diversity exceeding the family level. We discuss a potential link between thallus complexity and the prevalence and profundity of cryptic diversity. For taxonomic simplicity and as a first step toward clarifying the taxonomy of these simple siphons, we propose to maintain Pseudochlorodesmis as a form genus and subsume Siphonogramen and Botryodesmis therein.
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Heroen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verbruggen
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlaeminck
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sauvage
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alison R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leliaert
authors.affiliation: Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, BelgiumBotany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USAPhycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, building S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De Clerck
keywords: Botryodesmis; Bryopsidales; Pseudochlorodesmis; Siphonogramen; cryptic diversity; molecular phylogenetics; thallus complexity