title: Multigene analyses resolve early diverging lineages in the Rhodymeniophycidae (Florideophyceae, Rhodophyta).
abstract: Multigene phylogenetic analyses were directed at resolving the earliest divergences in the red algal subclass Rhodymeniophycidae. The inclusion of key taxa (new to science and/or previously lacking molecular data), additional sequence data (SSU, LSU, EF2, rbcL, COI-5P), and phylogenetic analyses removing the most variable sites (site stripping) have provided resolution for the first time at these deep nodes. The earliest diverging lineage within the subclass was the enigmatic Catenellopsis oligarthra from New Zealand (Catenellopsidaceae), which is here placed in the Catenellopsidales ord. nov. In our analyses, Atractophora hypnoides was not allied with the other included Bonnemaisoniales, but resolved as sister to the Peyssonneliales, and is here assigned to Atractophoraceae fam. nov. in the Atractophorales ord. nov. Inclusion of Acrothesaurum gemellifilum gen. et sp. nov. from Tasmania has greatly improved our understanding of the Acrosymphytales, to which we assign three families, the Acrosymphytaceae, Acrothesauraceae fam. nov. and Schimmelmanniaceae fam. nov.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5A3.
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5A3.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filloramo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental and Molecular Algal Research, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5A3.
authors.forename: Kyatt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB - UMR 7205 - CNRS, MNHN, UPMC, EPHE, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 39 75005, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Le Gall
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole House, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maggs
authors.affiliation: School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 1010, Australia.
authors.forename: Gerald T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Kraft
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins
keywords: Acrosymphytales; Acrothesauraceae; Acrothesaurum; Atractophoraceae; Atractophorales; Catenellopsidales; Schimmelmanniaceae