Identifying alien macroalgae through DNA barcoding: the case of Hypnea cornuta (Cystocloniaceae, Rhodophyta)


Abstract


1 - Introduction of non-indigenous macroalgae has become a major topic in the last decades. Potential vectors are aquaculture, fouling on hulls, ballast water, aquarium trading, fishing nets.
2 - Within a program of census of macroalgal alien species through DNA barcoding we found a population of previously unreported rhodophyte in Cape Peloro Lagoon and nearby marine coasts (north-eastern Sicily, Italy).
3 - All collected individuals were identified as the alien species Hypnea cornuta based on morphological characters confirmed by the analysis of COI-5’ sequences.

DOI Code: 10.1285/i1825229Xv5n1p42

Keywords: alien species; CO1-5’ region; DNA barcoding; Hypnea cornuta; Mediterranean Sea; Rhodophyta; Strait of Messina; transitional environments

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