Diversity of Non-Geniculate Crustose Coralline Algae on San Juan Island, Washington

Abstract

In the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, Corallinophycidae (Rhodophyta) sports two orders: Corallinales and Hapalidiales. This study focused on DNA-based identification of non-geniculate coralline algae on the rocky intertidal from San Juan Island, Washington. Here we recognized seven different species (Boreolithothamnion phymatodeum, Chamberlainium tumidum, Lithophyllum impressum, Bossiella frondescens, Bossiella mayae, Bossiella exarticulata, and Corallina vancouveriensis). Another was identified to the genus level (Lithophyllum sp. 1) and four to the ordinal level (Hapalidiales sp. 1, Hapalidiales sp. 2, Hapalidiales sp. 3, and Hapalidiales sp. 4). The result of this study showed that little is known about the diversity of coralline flora in San Juan Island despite their significant ecological role and abundant coverage in the rocky intertidal.