Revision of the genus Ulvella (Ulvellaceae, Ulvophyceae) based on morphology and tufA gene sequences of species in culture, with Acrochaete and Pringsheimiella placed in synonymy

Ruth Nielsen, Gitte Petersen, Ole Seberg, Niels Daugbjerg, Charles J. O'Kelly, Brian Wysor

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microfilamentous green algae in the Ulvellaceae are notoriously difficult to identify and classify. We revised Ulvella based on the morphology of 46 unialgal culture isolates, including several from type localities, and we were guided by a phylogenetic reconstruction based on chloroplast-encoded tufA gene sequences. Species previously referred to Acrochaete, including the type species A. repens, formed a clade that included Pringsheimiella scutata and Ulvella lens, the type species of their respective genera. These species were placed in a single genus, and Ulvella had priority. The circumscription of the genus was emended to include microscopic species with branched filaments that may or may not form mono- and polystromatic disc-shaped thalli. Ten new species were described (viz. U. aequicrassa, U. dasycala, U. gigas, U. glabra, U. globocaespitosa, U. inopinata, U. pachypes, U. pseudorepens, U. vacuospora, and U. waernii), and two were resurrected (U. parasitica, previously considered a synonym of A. repens, and U. porphyrae, previously synonymised with A. viridis). Ectochaete polymorpha was placed in synonymy with U. leptochaete and Acrochaete parasitica f. zosterae with Ochlochaete hystrix. Ten new combinations were proposed for species previously referred to Acrochaete (viz. U. cingens, U. codicola, U. geniculata, U. inflata, and U. taylori) or Pringsheimiella (viz. U. gratulans, U. mauritiana, U. sanctae-luciae, U. striata, and U. udoteae).

Original languageEnglish
JournalPhycologia
Volume52
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)37-56
Number of pages20
ISSN0031-8884
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jan 2013

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