Journal
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
Volume 45, Issue 6, Pages 1266-1269Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00752.x
Keywords
interfertility; Macrocystis; morphology; phenotypic plasticity; synonymy
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [OCE-0752523]
- NOAA/California Sea [R/A-1/25]
- Division Of Ocean Sciences
- Directorate For Geosciences [0752523] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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The giant kelp genus Macrocystis C. Agardh (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) is one of the world's most ecologically and economically important seaweed taxa, yet its taxonomy remains uncertain. Although the genus currently contains four accepted species based on variable holdfast and blade morphology [M. pyrifera (L.) C. Agardh, M. integrifolia Bory, M. angustifolia Bory, and M. laevis C. H. Hay], numerous recent studies on Macrocystis interfertility, genetic relatedness, and morphological plasticity all suggest that the genus is monospecific. We reviewed this evidence and present an explanation for the extreme phenotypic plasticity that results in morphological variability within Macrocystis, driven by the effects of environmental factors on early development of macroscopic sporophytes. We propose that the genus be collapsed back to a single species, with nomenclatural priority given to M. pyrifera.
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