Abstract
The morphologically diverse members of the Laminariales are separated into three families, the Alariaceae, Laminariaceae and Lessoniaceae, on the basis of developmental features exhibited at the stipeblade transition zone. We have investigated the relationships of lessoniacean taxa with those of alariacean and laminariacean affinity. This was done by completing phylogenetic analyses of 3′ small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene (113 bp), first internal transcribed spacer (ITS 1), 5.8S rRNA gene and second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2)(12 bp) sequence data from a variety of taxa. In summary, the Alariaceae and Lessoniaceae are polyphyletic. We present a restricted view of the Alariaceae, including only Alaria and Pterygophora of the genera usually placed in this family, and transfer the monotypic genus Lessoniopsis to this group. Current theories of kelp evolution and biogeography must be reconsidered in view of our data.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bhattacharya, D. & L. D. Druehl, 1990. Restriction enzyme analysis of variation and taxonomy in the kelp genus Laminaria (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) Proc. int. Seaweed Symp. 13: 105–110
Chin, N. K. M., M. T. Brown & M. J. Heads, 1991. The biogeography of Lessoniaceae, with special reference to Macrocystis C. Agardh (Phaeophyta: Laminariales). Hydrobiologia 215: 1–11
Druehl, L. D. & G. W. Saunders, 1992. Molecular explorations in kelp evolution. Prog. Phycol. Res. 8: 47–83
Estes, J. A. & P. D. Steinberg, 1988. Predation, herbivory, and kelp evolution. Paleobiology 14: 19–36
Fain, S. R., 1986. Molecular evolution in the Laminariales: restriction analysis of chloroplast DNA. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.
Fain, S. R., L. D. Druehl & D. L. Baillie, 1988. Repeat and single copy sequences are differentially conserved in the evolution of kelp chloroplast DNA. J. Phycol. 24: 292–302
Felsenstein, J., 1990. PHYLIP. Manual version 3.3. University Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley, California
Henry, E. C. & G. R. South, 1987. Phyllariopsis gen. nov. and a reappraisal of the Phyllariaceae Tilden 1935 (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae). Phycologia 26: 9–16
Hollenberg, G. J., 1939. Culture studies of marine algae. I. Eisenia arborea. Am. J. Bot. 26: 34–41
Jukes, T. H. & C. R. Cantor, 1969. Evolution of protein molecules. In H. N. Munro[ed.], Mammalian Protein Metabolism. Academic Press, New York: 21–132
Kawai, H. & M. Kurogi, 1985. On the life history of Pseudochorda nagaii (Pseudochordaceae fam. nov.) and its transfer from the Chordariales to the Laminariales (Phaeophyta). Phycologia 24: 289–296
Lobban, C. S., 1978. The growth and death of the Macrocystis sporophyte (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). Phycologia 17: 196–212
Lüning, K., 1990. Seaweds. Their environment, biogeography and ecophysiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 527 pp
Lüning, K. & I. tom Dieck, 1990. The distribution and evolution of the Laminariales: North Pacific-Atlantic relationships. In D. J. Garbary & G. R. South[eds], Evolutionary Biogeography of the Marine Algae of the North Atlantic. Springer-Verlag, Berlin: 187–204
Nei, M., 1987 Molecular Evolutionary Genetics. Columbia University Press, New York, 512 pp
Neushul, M. 1971. Macrocystis and related kelps. Nova Hedwigia 32: 223–228
Palmer, J. D., 1987. Chloroplast DNA evolution and biosystematic uses of chloroplast DNA variation. Am. Nat. 130 (Suppl.): 6–29.
Pfister, C. A., 1991. Reproductive plasticity in the kelp Alaria nana (Phaeophyceae). J. Phycol. 27: 763–766
Saitou, N. & M. Nei, 1987. The Neighbor-joining method: a new method for reconstructing phylogenetic trees. Mol. Biol. Evol. 4: 406–425
Sanbonsuga, Y. & M. Neushul, 1978. Hybridization of Macrocystis (Phaeophyta) with other float-bearing kelps. J. Phycol. 14: 214–224
Saunders, De A., 1895. A preliminary paper on Costaria with description of a new species. Bot. Gaz. 20: 54–58
Saunders, G. W. & L. D. Druehl, 1991. Restriction enzyme mapping of the nuclear ribosomal cistron in selected Laminariales (Phaeophyta): a phylogenetic assessment. Can. J. Bot. 69: 2647–2654
Saunders, G. W. & L. D. Druehl, 1992. Nucleotide sequences of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes from selected Laminariales (Phaeophyta): implications for kelp evolution. J. Phycol. 28: 544–549
Saunders, G. W. & L. D. Druehl, 1993. Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers and 5.8S rRNA genes from Alaria marginata and Postelsia palmaeformis (Phaeophyta, Laminariales). Mar. Biol., in press.
Saunders, G. W., G. Kraft, I. H. Tan & L. D. Druehl, 1992. When is a family not a family? BioSystems, in press.
Searles, R. B., 1978. The genus Lessonia Bory (Phaeophyta, Laminariales) in Southern Chile and Argentina. Br. phycol. J. 13: 361–381
Setchell, W. A. & N. L. Gardner, 1925. The marine algae of the Pacific Coast of North America. Melanophyceae. Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 8: 590–649
Widdowson, T. B., 1971. A taxonomic revision of the genus Alaria Greville. Syesis 4: 11–49
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saunders, G.W., Druehl, L.D. Revision of the kelp family Alariaceae and the taxonomic affinities of Lessoniopsis Reinke (Laminariales, Phaeophyta). Hydrobiologia 260, 689–697 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049089
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049089