The identity of Porphyra columbina (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) originally described from the New Zealand subantarctic islands
W. A. Nelson A C and J. E. S. Broom BA National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research, Private Bag 14-901, Wellington 6421, New Zealand.
B Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Email: w.nelson@niwa.co.nz
Australian Systematic Botany 23(1) 16-26 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB09032
Submitted: 24 July 2009 Accepted: 5 October 2009 Published: 17 February 2010
Abstract
Porphyra columbina Mont. (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) was collected in 1840 from the Auckland Islands in the New Zealand subantarctic region. This name has been applied to bladed Bangiales exhibiting a wide range of morphological forms, and found throughout the New Zealand region and in much of the southern hemisphere, particularly in Australia and Chile. By using morphological and anatomical characters as well as nSSU and rbcL sequence data, Montagne’s description of P. columbina is re-examined in the light of recent collections from the New Zealand region and the Southern Ocean. We conclude that P. columbina is primarily distributed in cold temperate conditions, including the Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Chatham and Falkland Islands, and is only rarely present on mainland New Zealand. Specimens from the type locality and other subantarctic locations have a rosette to ovate growth form and are typically less than 5 cm in height/width, with specimens from more northern locations including some ribbon-like growth forms. Thalli are purple to grey, bleaching golden green. Mature specimens have a distinctly spotted appearance, with conspicuous large, purple–red clusters of phyllospores and golden marginal areas of spermatangia. Five unique rbcL haplotypes, differing by 1–6 substitutions, were obtained from 26 specimens, with the most common haplotype found in specimens from the Auckland, Campbell and the Falkland Islands.
Acknowledgements
We thank the many individuals who have collected Porphyra specimens for us from throughout the New Zealand region (particularly Tracy Farr, Wyn Jones, Glenys Knight, Kate Neill, Carol West, Pete McClelland, Don Neale and Alex Fergus) as well as from the Falkland Islands (Margaret Clayton, Louise Phillips and Lindsay Chadderton) and Macquarie Island (Lindsay Chadderton and Ken Ryan). The scans of the type specimen and illustrations were supplied by the Crypogamic herbarium (PC) of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France) and we acknowledge the assistance of Bruno De Reviers and Bruno Dennetiere. Jenn Dalen (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa) is thanked for assistance with specimen registration. Helen Neil (NIWA) is thanked for helpful advice regarding the oceanography of the New Zealand subantarctic. Erika MacKay (NIWA) is thanked for assistance with illustrations and maps. The New Zealand Foundation for Research Science and Technology is thanked for funding this research (CO1X0502).
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[Verified November 2009]
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