A taxonomic analysis of Jania (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

The genus Jania J.V.Lamour. (Corallinaceae, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) is represented by five species (one with two varieties) in south-eastern Australia. Descriptions and detailed morphoanatomical accounts of these taxa are provided, along with keys, information on distribution, nomenclature and habitat, and brief biogeographic comparisons within Australia. Relevant type material is illustrated in detail. A list of 79 morphoanatomical characters and character states used by previous authors (since 1928) to delimit or identify species of Jania was compiled. Of these, nine were useful for delimiting species occurring in south-eastern Australia. Most can be delimited using a single diagnostic character, but Jania pedunculata J.V.Lamour. is highly variable and is distinguished from J. crassa J.V.Lamour. by using several overlapping characters. Twelve additional names have been recorded for south-eastern Australia. The types of seven of these were examined during the present study or in recent publications. Types of five entities could not be examined, because type material had not been designated or was not available for examination or the name was not validly published. Information on misidentified specimens, heterotypic synonyms, rejected names and unverified records for the region is also provided.

Inventory of red algae (Rhodophyta) from the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Mexican Caribbean

“…Particularly for the genus Jania, it is widely known about its complicated scenario to establish limits between species due to the substantial morphological variation that it exhibits, consequently, the correct application of names for many species of Jania is surrounded by uncertainty and, therefore, lacks knowledge of a stable nomenclatural foundation, and descriptions are often brief and inadequate as well (Harvey et al 2020). Harvey et al (2020) in a study of the genus Jania in Australia evaluated 79 diagnostic characters to delimit the species of this genus, finding that many of these characters' overlap each other or are inadequately explained, some characters or character states were not found in species from south-eastern Australia or its nomenclatural types and therefore could not be assessed. Others were present in all specimens and thus were of no value in delineating species found in southeastern Australia and which records of some species from south-eastern Australia involve misidentified specimens.…”

“…Others were present in all specimens and thus were of no value in delineating species found in southeastern Australia and which records of some species from south-eastern Australia involve misidentified specimens. In their study, Harvey et al (2020) transferred J. adhaerens as a synonym of Jania pedunculata var. adhaerens, indicating that, in the published literature, the concept of the morphoanatomy of J. adhaerens varies considerably from publication to publication.…”

DNA Barcode-Assisted Inventory of the Marine Macroalgae from the Azores, Including New Records

“…Native [7] Studies based on lectotype material have supported the recognition of Jania pedunculata var. adhaerens as a variety rather than a distinct species [52]. However, the synonym Jania adhaerens is still widely used.…”

Untitled

“…La variación morfológica en Jania parece estar relacionada, al menos en parte, con las condiciones ambientales (Lugilde et al 2019), por lo que solo con evidencias moleculares será posible esclarecer de manera concluyente la taxonomía tanto de Jania como de Amphiroa, que incluyen especies con amplias distribuciones. Dos espléndidas monografías recientes sobre Amphiroa (Harvey et al 2013) y Jania (Harvey et al 2020) morfoanatómicos y en los exámenes de material tipo de diferentes regiones (aunque en Jania la localización de los tipos ha fracasado en muchas especies), proporcionan una muy valiosa base para futuros estudios de sistemática molecular. Sin embargo, aquí mantendremos una postura conservadora antes de aceptar la propuesta de Harvey et al (2020) de tratar a la ampliamente distribuida Jania adhaerens como una variedad de la australiana J. pedunculata, sin contar con evidencias moleculares.…”