Dra. Tellier, Florence

Morphological variability is common among macroalgae. In central Chile, Mazzaella laminarioides extends throughout the intertidal rocky zones, where blades are reported to grow up to 20 cm in length. Nevertheless, in low rocky intertidal zones with sand-influence, blades are noticeably larger than in other shores without sand effect. The aim of this study was to compare the morphology of M. laminarioides blades from two different conditions. Blades collected from four sites with, and four without, sand-influence were evaluated with traditional morphometry. Results showed that blades were longer and wider in sand-influenced sites. Sand abrasion was not directly evaluated, but indirect effects such as the abundance of bare rock and of sand tolerant species were higher in areas with sand-influence. Also, long blades were restricted to sand-influenced sites, supporting the relation between these two variables. Molecular analyses using the COI marker confirmed large-bladed individuals as M. laminarioides. Results indicated that life cycle phase, seasonality and vertical height were not related to large blades. We suggest that restriction of large blades to sand-influenced sites may be related to the healing processes of basal holdfasts after suffering sand abrasion.

The red seaweed Chondracanthus chamissoi shows high morphological variability. Initially, three species were identified based on the width of the main axis of their blades. Later, all of them were included in a single species with two morphological groups. Recently, quantitative studies demonstrated the existence of two forms in C. chamissoi: f. lessonii and f. chauvinii. It was also shown that these two forms occur in sympatry, growing side by side. These forms were not associated with either a life cycle phase or the sex of the blades. This study aimed to determine whether the two forms could represent different species. We evaluated the forms' taxonomic position using COI and rbcL markers, including samples from three localities in southern Chile. All specimens shared a single rbcL haplotype, whereas the two COI haplotypes differed by four base pairs and were present in blades of both forms and life cycle phases. The two morphological types correspond to intraspecific forms. This species is of commercial importance, and its main market is aimed at human consumption with a marked preference for f. lessonii.