• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 2023

Cryptic stages of diverse macroalgae present in natural substrata, "the bank of microscopic forms", were isolated into clonal cultures and identified based on both morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding. Approximately 120 clonal isolates from 308 natural substratum samples were collected from the entire coastline of Kuwait. Amongst these isolates, 77 (64%) were identified through DNA barcoding using the nuclear ribosomal small subunit, RuBisCO spacer (ITS2, tufa, rbcL, psaA, and psbA) and sequencing. Twenty-six isolates (34%) were identified in the division Chlorophyta, 18 (23%) as Phaeophyceae, and 33 (43%) as Rhodophyta. For all DNA sequences in this study, species-level cut off applied was ≥98% homology which depend entirely on the markers used. Three putative new records of Chlorophyta new for the Arabian Gulf were made: Cladophora laetevirens (Dillwyn) Kützing, Ulva torta (Mertens) Trevisan and Ulvella leptochaete (Huber) R. Nielsen, C. J. O'Kelly & B. Wysor in Nielsen, while Cladophora gracilis Kützing and Ulva ohnoi M. Hiraoka & S. Shimada are new records for Kuwait. For Phaeophyceae, Ectocarpus subulatus Kützing and Elachista stellaris Areschoug were new records for the Gulf and Kuwait. In the Rhodophyta, Acrochaetium secundatum (Lyngbye) Nägeli in Nägeli & Cramer, Ceramium affine Setchell & N. L. Gardner, Gelidium pusillum var. pakistanicum Afaq-Husain & Shameel and Dasya caraibica Børgesen are new records for the Gulf and Kuwait, while the red alga Stylonema alsidii (Zanardini) K. Drew is a new record for Kuwait. Several isolates identified corresponded to genera not previously reported in Kuwait and / or the Arabian Gulf, such as Porphyrostromium Trevisan, a new genus from the Bangiales, and two unidentified species for the Planophilaceae Škaloud & Leliaert. The isolates cultivated from substrata enhance understanding of the marine macroalgal diversity in the region and confirmed that the Germling Emergence Method is suitable for determining the actual diversity of a given study area through isolation from cryptic life-history phases.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

To examine the relationship between competition and environmental factors, the germlings of Ascophyllum nodosum (L) Le Jolis and Fucus vesiculosus L. were cultured in monocultures and mixtures of the two species under two different exposure and nutrient levels. Both intra- and inter-specific competition were examined in comparison of the mortality and growth of germlings in monocultures and mixtures of the two species. The mortality of germlings increased with increasing density and emergence periods both in the monoculture and mixtures of the two species, and the mortality of Ascophyllum was significantly higher than that of Fucus both in submerged and emerged treatments. The growth of germlings of both species reduced with increasing density but F. vesiculosus always grew faster than Ascophyllum. The values of log output ratio were more than 0.1, indicating that Fucus 'won' in the competitive battles with Ascophyllum under two nutrient- and air-exposure levels. Log output ratio was greater in high than in low nutrients, indicating that the growth of Fucus is more enhanced than that of Ascophyllum in high nutrients. In the present study, the outcome of inter specific competition between germlings of Fucus vesiculosus and Ascophyllum nodosum was slightly altered by duration of emergence and nutrient concentration, but not to such an extent as to change the outcome.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2020

Culture isolates of the genus Hypoglossum (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) were obtained and their development and morphological structure over many years were followed in the laboratory. Molecular data (rbcL, large subunit ribosomal DNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) were obtained from these strains and evidence presented to recognize the new species: Hypoglossum sabahense from Sabah, Malaysia. Because various aspects of morphology in culture specimens differ significantly from types based on field specimens we have to rely mainly on the molecular criteria in ascribing a new taxonomic name here. This also is complicated by the major lack of molecular phylogenetic evidence for Hypoglossum and other Delesseriaceae. The 'Germling Emergence Method' and 'serendipity' are proving valuable in discovering significant new taxa from laboratory cultures which otherwise might never be known.