Morphological plasticity in a Fijian Seagrass: Halophila ovalis subsp. Bullosa

Shalini Singh; Paul C Southgate; Monal M Lal

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100809

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Morphological plasticity in a Fijian Seagrass: Halophila ovalis subsp. Bullosa

Journal article

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Morphological plasticity in a Fijian Seagrass: Halophila ovalis subsp. Bullosa

Shalini Singh, Paul C Southgate and Monal M Lal

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Vol.32, 100809

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100809

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Abstract

DNA barcoding

seagrass

halophila

nuclear marker

chloroplast marker

taxonomic identification

Seagrasses are marine flowering plants found along both tropical and temperate coastlines; they possess great ecological importance as nurseries, nutrient sinks, and providers of critical marine habitat. Understanding the distribution and diversity of seagrass habitats is important for their conservation and management, however this is impeded by varying species' diversity, the extensive distribution of seagrasses and taxonomic uncertainty. In the Fiji Islands, the tropical seagrass Halophila ovalis and its subspecies H. ovalis bullosa are the subject of taxonomic controversy, as a singular morphological characteristic distinguishes the two. This characteristic is the bullated, or blister-like leaves of the latter, compared to the smooth leaves of the former, which in some instances have been observed on the same plant (S.S., pers. obs.). This study examined material from both taxa, along with three other seagrass species (Halodule pinifolia, H. uninervis and Syringodium isoetifolium; total n = 95) and used independent morphological and molecular barcoding approaches to assess the conspecificity of the two Halophila taxa. Examination of vegetative and reproductive characters was not able to distinguish between H. ovalis and H. ovalis subsp. bullosa, while phylogenetic reconstructions using ITS2, matK and trnH-psbA barcodes supported their monophyly. We recommend revision and merger of these taxa, while the approach used here is highly useful for taxonomic resolution in other seagrass taxa, for their conservation, restoration and management.

Details

Title: Morphological plasticity in a Fijian Seagrass: Halophila ovalis subsp. Bullosa
Authors: Shalini Singh (Corresponding Author) - University of the South Pacific
Paul C Southgate (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
Monal M Lal (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
Publication details: Regional Studies in Marine Science, Vol.32, 100809; 10
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100809
ISSN: 2352-4855
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451362802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Marine & Freshwater Biology

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