The monospecific genus Meredithia (Kallymeniaceae, Gigartinales) is species rich and geographically widespread with species from temperate Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans

Abstract

Using sequences of 5' region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene, large subunit rDNA, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit gene as genetic markers to elucidate their phylogenetic positions, six unknown species from Western Australia, Tasmania, Lord Howe Is., and Norfolk Is. cluster with Meredithia in the Kallymeniaceae (Gigartinales), and are described as new members of this previously monospecific genus. Specimens from Bermuda referable to Kallymenia limminghei Mont. in the 20th century also clustered with this genetic grouping, not with the generitype of Kallymenia. The Bermudian specimens are further shown to be morphologically distinct from the type of K. limminghei (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea) and are described as a new species, Meredithia crenata. Using these Indo-Pacific and Bermudian collections, our analyses further show that Psaromenia is closely related to Meredithia, and that Cirrulicarpus nanus sensu stricto should be returned to Meredithia.

Keywords: Australia; Bermuda; COI-5P; Cirrulicarpus; Kallymenia limminghei; Kallymeniaceae; LSU rDNA; M. crenata sp. nov.; M. guiryorum sp. nov.; M. kraftii sp. nov.; M. nana; M. norfolkensis sp. nov.; M. nutleorum sp. nov.; M. opuntioides sp. nov.; M. pseudopeltata sp. nov.; Meredithia; Psaromenia; rbcL.