A DNA barcode approach of the Laurencia complex (Ceramiales, Rodophyta) in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic ocean

10th International Phycological Congress, Orlando, Florida, USA, 4-10 de agosto 2013.

The diversity of the Laurencia complex is being assessed in tropical and subtropical Atlantic by an international cooperation project involving Brazil, Mexico, Spain (Canary Islands), Portugal (Azores and Madeira) and USA (Florida) on the base of molecular data allied to a detailed morphological study of species. The diversity of the complex was analyzed for the first time for the Atlantic Ocean, including specimens from all five localities, using the plastid 23S rRNA gene (UPA) which has been investigated as potential DNA Barcode marker for photosynthetic eukaryotes. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI-5P) was also used as DNA barcode for the same set of species, and the rbcL gene was used for phylogenetic inferences. The range of genetic variation was compared for the three markers. The UPA proved to be more conserved; however, the same genetic groups were resolved with each of the three markers confirming the six genera currently established for the complex: Chondrophycus, Laurencia, Laurenciella, Palisada, Osmundea and Yuzurua.