Peyssonneliaceae represents a monophyletic clade of red encrusting algae classified Peyssonneliales. Molecular analyses have been important for revealing unknown diversity in this family, which includes small, cryptic organisms, frequently distinguished solely by discrete anatomical characters. Brazil however, remains virtually unknown. To assess this diversity, phylogenetic and barcoding analyses using rbcL, COI-5P and SSU data, as well as morpho-anatomical analyses were performed. Here we report the first occurrence of two genera on the Brazilian coast: Ramicrusta and Incendia, and describe three new species: Ramicrusta fujiiana sp. nov., Ramicrusta paradoxa sp. nov. and Incendia yoneshigueana sp. nov. Ramicrusta was resolved as a monophyletic clade in the three reconstructed phylogenies, and had congruent topologies. In the rbcL phylogeny, Ramicrusta fujiiana formed a well-supported clade sister to a well-supported clade including R. aranea (Vanuatu, type locality) and R. textilis (Jamaica, type locality). Morphological characters of R. paradoxa are not in agreement with the original description of the genus. Therefore, we present an updated and broader concept of Ramicrusta. Incendia was resolved as a monophyletic clade with full support for rbcL. Incendia yoneshigueana is in a sister relationship with I. glabra (Vanuatu, type locality). This study extends the distributions of Ramicrusta and Incendia, proposes three new species, and confirms the effectiveness of rbcL, COI-5P and SSU in inferring phylogenetic relationships and delimiting species in the Peyssonneliales. The integrative approach established clear taxonomic concepts for the studied genera and species, and identified useful characters for genera delimitation in Peyssonneliaceae.
Cultivation medium is one of the first aspects to be considered in zooplankton laboratory cultivation. The use of artificial media does not concern to reproduce natural conditions to the cultivations, which may be achieved by using natural organic compounds like humic substances (HS). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a concentrate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the Negro River (NR(1)) and an extraction of humic acids (HA) from humus produced by Eisenia andrei on the life history traits of laboratory-based Latonopsis australis SARS (1888). A cohort life table approach was used to provide information about the effectiveness of NR and HA as supplements for the artificial cultivation of L. australis. Additionally, we seek to observe a maximization of L. australis artificial cultivation fitness by expanding the range of HS concentrations. The first experiment demonstrated that the females of L. australis reared under NR10 (mgDOCL(-1)) may have experienced an acceleration of the population life cycle, as the females have proportionally reproduced more and lived shorter than controls. By contrast, the use of the HA did not improve life history traits considered. The expansion of the concentration range (5, 10, 20 and 50 mgDOCL(-1)) corroborated the patterns observed on the first assay. Results for the fitness estimates combined with shorter lifespans than controls demonstrated trade-offs between reproductive output and female longevity reared under NR conditions, with NR20 been suggested as the best L. australis cultivation medium. This response might be associated with hormone-like effects.
The Gracilariaceae comprises 242 mainly tropical species, including some with significant economic value for the food and pharmaceutical industry. Accurate taxonomy is crucial for the selection of species for cultivation. However, species identification is still challenging taxonomists. Nineteen species of Gracilariaceae have so far been referred to the Brazilian coast. We describe this diversity across approximately 32 degrees of latitude, using mitochondrial (COI-5P) and plastid (UPA and rbcL) markers in species delimitation analyses (ABGD and SPN). We provide phylogenetic (based on a concatenated three-genes tree and a taxa rich rbcL tree) and barcoding analyses from a broad and partially original collection combined with morphoanatomical data, including information resulting from analyses of type specimens and topotype material. We identified twenty-five specific entities occurring on the Brazilian coast, including four new species yet to be described. Spermatangial arrangements and aspects of thallus morphology were the most useful characters for species and genera delimitation, while characters based on the anatomy of the cystocarp overlap. Our morphological analyses demonstrate the lack of exclusive characters that justify the recently proposed Gracilariaceae infrafamilial categories, and therefore we use in this work the Gracilaria sensu lato genus concept. We provide descriptions, illustrations and a dichotomous key for the identification of species occurring in Brazil.
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