Aki Kato (Hiroshima University, Seto Inland Sea Carbon-neutral Research Center): Species diversity of coralline red algae – highly calcified and globally distributed macroalgae

Coralline red algae are calcareous macroalgae and possess extra-cellular calcium carbonate, which accounts for up to 95% of their mass. They are recognized as important components of coastal ecosystems in consolidating the reef structure and in providing habitats for other organisms and chemical cues for the settlement of various marine invertebrates. Numerous investigations on coralline algal ecology and physiology have been conducted owing to growing concerns about their vulnerability to climate change. The scientific reproducibility of these investigations can be ensured by the accurate species identification and the correct application of authoritative species names. However, the advent of molecular phylogenetic techniques has greatly changed coralline algal systematics and has revealed an extraordinary number of undescribed species. In this seminar, I will give an overview of species diversity of coralline algae in Japan and introduce our ongoing research activities.

References:

• Discovery of a new coralline algal species based on specimens collected by a Japanese researcher over 100 years ago (https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/seisei/news/69553)

• Confirmation of two independent species of coralline red algae from the DNA sequences of 100-year-old type specimens from Sri Lanka (https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/seisei/news/76606)