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A molecular method for identification of the morphologically plastic invasive algal genera Eucheuma and Kappaphycus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) in Hawaii

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Abstract

A paucity of diagnostic morphological characters for identification and high morphological plasticity within the genera Eucheuma and Kappaphycus has led to confusion about the distributions and spread of three introduced eucheumoid species in Hawaii. Entities previously identified as E. denticulatum, K. alvarezii, and K. striatum have had profound negative effects on Oahu’s coral reef ecosystems. The use of molecular tools to aid identification of algal species has been promising in other morphologically challenging taxa. We used three molecular markers (partial nuclear 28S rRNA, partial plastid 23S rRNA, and mitochondrial 5′ COI) and followed a DNA barcoding-like approach to identify Eucheuma and Kappaphycus samples from Hawaii. Neighbor-joining analyses were congruent in their separation of Eucheuma and Kappaphycus, and the resulting clusters were consistent with those revealed for global comparisons with the mitochondrial cox2-3 spacer and GenBank data. Based on these results, new insights were revealed into the distribution of these groups in Hawaii.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Brian Hauk and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) for providing many of our samples. We would also like to thank Dr. Eric Conklin for field assistance and insights, Dr. Celia Smith for constructive criticism of the manuscript, and the Sherwood laboratory for general support. We also thank the staff of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum (Honolulu), especially Napua Narbottle, for their assistance and overall support of molecular analyses of archived material. This study was supported by the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources, a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to A.R.S. and G.G. Presting (DEB-0542608), and the University of Hawaii.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, University of Hawaii, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Kimberly Y. Conklin, Akira Kurihara & Alison R. Sherwood

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  1. Kimberly Y. Conklin
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  2. Akira Kurihara
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  3. Alison R. Sherwood
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Correspondence to Alison R. Sherwood.

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Conklin, K.Y., Kurihara, A. & Sherwood, A.R. A molecular method for identification of the morphologically plastic invasive algal genera Eucheuma and Kappaphycus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) in Hawaii. J Appl Phycol 21, 691–699 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9404-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9404-2

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