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Description:
Title:
Unveiling mesophotic diversity in Hawai‘i: two new species in the genera Halopeltis and Leptofauchea (Rhodymeniales, Rhodophyta)
Author(s):
Alvarado, E.A.
Cabrera, F.P.
Paiano, M.O.
Fumo, J.T.
Spalding, H.L.
Smith, C.M.
Leonard, J.C.
Lopes Jr., K.H.
Kosaki, R.K.
Sherwood, A.R.
Dates of Publication:
2022
Abstract:
Two genera of the Rhodymeniales, Halopeltis and Leptofauchea, are here reported for the first time from the Hawaiian Islands and represent the deepest records for both genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), rbcL, and large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) sequences for Hawaiian specimens of Leptofauchea revealed one well-supported clade of Hawaiian specimens and three additional lineages. One of these clades is described here as Leptofauchea huawelau sp. nov., and is thus far known only from mesophotic depths at Penguin Bank in the Main Hawaiian Islands. L. huawelau sp. nov. is up to 21 cm, and is the largest known species. An additional lineage identified in the LSU and rbcL analyses corresponds to the recently described L. lucida from Western Australia, and is a new record for Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Halopeltis formed a well-supported clade along with H. adnata from Korea, the recently described H. tanakae from mesophotic depths in Japan, and H. willisii from North Carolina, and is here described as Halopeltis nuahilihilia sp. nov. H. nuahilihilia sp. nov. has a distinctive morphology of narrow vegetative axes that harbor constrictions along their length. The current distribution of H. nuahilihilia includes mesophotic depths around W. Maui, W. Moloka‘i, and the island of Hawai‘i in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Few reproductive characters were observed because of the small number of specimens available; however, both species are distinct based on phylogeny and morphology. These descriptions further emphasize the Hawaiian mesophotic zone as a location harboring many undescribed species of marine macroalgae.
Keywords:
Biodiversity
Morphology
Phylogeny
Red algae
Rhodymeniaceae
Local Corporate Name:
CoRIS (Coral Reef Information System)
Ocean Exploration Program
NOS (National Ocean Service)
ONMS (Office of National Marine Sanctuaries)
CIMAR (Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research)
Format:
PDF
Type of Resource:
Journal Article
Note:
We gratefully acknowledge the NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group for their invaluable contributions in developing the specific epithets for the Hawaiian species of Halopeltis and Leptofauchea.
This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB-1754117), the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF 0810.18.059023), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, NOAA Coastal Ocean Program (NA07NOS4780187 and NA07NOS478190 to the University of Hawai‘i), NOAA’s Undersea Research Program and Coral Reef Conservation Program through the Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory (NA09OAR4300219 and NA05OAR4301108), and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration.
Note:
Two genera of the Rhodymeniales, Halopeltis and Leptofauchea, are here reported for the first time from the Hawaiian Islands and represent the deepest records for both genera. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), rbcL, and large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU) sequences for Hawaiian specimens of Leptofauchea revealed one well-supported clade of Hawaiian specimens and three additional lineages. One of these clades is described here as Leptofauchea huawelau sp. nov., and is thus far known only from mesophotic depths at Penguin Bank in the Main Hawaiian Islands. L. huawelau sp. nov. is up to 21 cm, and is the largest known species. An additional lineage identified in the LSU and rbcL analyses corresponds to the recently described L. lucida from Western Australia, and is a new record for Hawai‘i. Hawaiian Halopeltis formed a well-supported clade along with H. adnata from Korea, the recently described H. tanakae from mesophotic depths in Japan, and H. willisii from North Carolina, and is here described as Halopeltis nuahilihilia sp. nov. H. nuahilihilia sp. nov. has a distinctive morphology of narrow vegetative axes that harbor constrictions along their length. The current distribution of H. nuahilihilia includes mesophotic depths around W. Maui, W. Moloka‘i, and the island of Hawai‘i in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Few reproductive characters were observed because of the small number of specimens available; however, both species are distinct based on phylogeny and morphology. These descriptions further emphasize the Hawaiian mesophotic zone as a location harboring many undescribed species of marine macroalgae.
We gratefully acknowledge the NOAA Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group for their invaluable contributions in developing the specific epithets for the Hawaiian species of Halopeltis and Leptofauchea.
This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (DEB-1754117), the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF 0810.18.059023), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, NOAA Coastal Ocean Program (NA07NOS4780187 and NA07NOS478190 to the University of Hawai‘i), NOAA’s Undersea Research Program and Coral Reef Conservation Program through the Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory (NA09OAR4300219 and NA05OAR4301108), and NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration.
Grant no. NA07NOS4780187
Grant no. NA07NOS478190
Grant no. NA09OAR4300219
Grant no. NA05OAR4301108
URL:
DOI:
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