More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales
Morphologically similar but genetically distinct species have been termed cryptic and most have been assumed to be ecologically similar. However, if these species co-occur at a certain spatial scale, some niche differences at finer scales should be expected to allow for coexistence. Here, we demonst...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/5/605 |
| _version_ | 1797474118914801664 |
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| author | Fernanda P. Cid Alda Nelson Valdivia Marie-Laure Guillemin |
| author_facet | Fernanda P. Cid Alda Nelson Valdivia Marie-Laure Guillemin |
| author_sort | Fernanda P. Cid Alda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Morphologically similar but genetically distinct species have been termed cryptic and most have been assumed to be ecologically similar. However, if these species co-occur at a certain spatial scale, some niche differences at finer scales should be expected to allow for coexistence. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a disjointed distribution of cryptic bladed Bangiales along spatial (intertidal elevations) and temporal (seasons) environmental gradients. Bladed Bangiales were identified and quantified across four intertidal elevations and four seasons for one year, at five rocky intertidal sites (between 39° S and 43° S) in southern Chile. Species determination was based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene amplification. To assess species gross morphology, thallus shape, color, and maximum length and width were recorded. Hundreds of organisms were classified into nine Bangiales species belonging to three genera (i.e., <i>Fuscifolium</i>, <i>Porphyra</i>, and <i>Pyropia</i>), including five frequent (>97% of specimens) and four infrequent species. All species, except for <i>Pyropia saldanhae</i>, had been previously reported along the coasts of Chile. The thallus shape and color were very variable, and a large overlap of the maximum width and length supported the cryptic status of these species. Multivariate analyses showed that the main variable affecting species composition was intertidal elevation. Species such as <i>Py. orbicularis</i> were more abundant in low and mid intertidal zones, while others, such as <i>Po. mumfordii</i> and <i>Po.</i> sp. <i>FIH</i>, were principally observed in high and spray elevations. Despite all numerically dominant species being present all year long, a slight effect of seasonal variation on species composition was also detected. These results strongly support the existence of spatial niche partitioning in cryptic Bangiales along the Chilean rocky intertidal zone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:26:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c716532db394451980cbeede21be6b96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:26:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-c716532db394451980cbeede21be6b962023-11-23T23:35:24ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-02-0111560510.3390/plants11050605More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal BangialesFernanda P. Cid Alda0Nelson Valdivia1Marie-Laure Guillemin2Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 1145, Temuco 4780000, ChileInstituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Isla Teja, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, ChileCentro FONDAP de Investigación de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes (IDEAL), Valdivia 5090000, ChileMorphologically similar but genetically distinct species have been termed cryptic and most have been assumed to be ecologically similar. However, if these species co-occur at a certain spatial scale, some niche differences at finer scales should be expected to allow for coexistence. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a disjointed distribution of cryptic bladed Bangiales along spatial (intertidal elevations) and temporal (seasons) environmental gradients. Bladed Bangiales were identified and quantified across four intertidal elevations and four seasons for one year, at five rocky intertidal sites (between 39° S and 43° S) in southern Chile. Species determination was based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene amplification. To assess species gross morphology, thallus shape, color, and maximum length and width were recorded. Hundreds of organisms were classified into nine Bangiales species belonging to three genera (i.e., <i>Fuscifolium</i>, <i>Porphyra</i>, and <i>Pyropia</i>), including five frequent (>97% of specimens) and four infrequent species. All species, except for <i>Pyropia saldanhae</i>, had been previously reported along the coasts of Chile. The thallus shape and color were very variable, and a large overlap of the maximum width and length supported the cryptic status of these species. Multivariate analyses showed that the main variable affecting species composition was intertidal elevation. Species such as <i>Py. orbicularis</i> were more abundant in low and mid intertidal zones, while others, such as <i>Po. mumfordii</i> and <i>Po.</i> sp. <i>FIH</i>, were principally observed in high and spray elevations. Despite all numerically dominant species being present all year long, a slight effect of seasonal variation on species composition was also detected. These results strongly support the existence of spatial niche partitioning in cryptic Bangiales along the Chilean rocky intertidal zone.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/5/605niche partitioningco-occurring cryptic speciesenvironmental gradientsChile<i>Fuscifolium</i><i>Porphyra</i> |
| spellingShingle | Fernanda P. Cid Alda Nelson Valdivia Marie-Laure Guillemin More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales Plants niche partitioning co-occurring cryptic species environmental gradients Chile <i>Fuscifolium</i> <i>Porphyra</i> |
| title | More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales |
| title_full | More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales |
| title_fullStr | More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales |
| title_full_unstemmed | More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales |
| title_short | More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales |
| title_sort | more than what meets the eye differential spatiotemporal distribution of cryptic intertidal bangiales |
| topic | niche partitioning co-occurring cryptic species environmental gradients Chile <i>Fuscifolium</i> <i>Porphyra</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/5/605 |
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