DNA Taxonomy Reveals Cryptic Diversity in Sponge-associated Boodlea Species (Chlorophyta: Cladophorales)

Abstract

Boodlea complex is a group of siphonocladalean green algae consisting of four genera: Boodlea, Cladophoropsis, Phyllodictyon and Struveopsis. Within the group, Cladophoropsis vaucheriiformis is long known as a green algal species that associates with sponge in the genus Halichondria. Recent study in Boodlea complex suggested that there are at least four Boodlea species that coexist with sponge (Boodlea sp. 1, sp. 3, sp. 6 and sp. 7). In this study, we aimed to explore species diversity of sponge-associate green algae by using nrDNA internal transcribed spacer. DNA sequences of the previously reported Boodlea species, together with the newly generated sequences generated in this work, were used to construct phylogenetic trees. The results suggested that apart from four documented sponge-assiciated Boodlea species, Boodlea sp. 10 also coexist with sponge. Molecular phylogenetic studies of green algae in this group may reveal further cryptic diversity of green algae that coexist with sponge species.