Durvillaea poha sp. nov. (Fucales, Phaeophyceae): A buoyant southern bull-kelp species endemic to New Zealand

Abstract

Recent molecular and morphological research has demonstrated that the southern bull-kelp genus Durvillaea includes multiple as-yet-unnamed phylogenetic species. One of these, which has previously been recognised as genetically, morphologically and ecologically distinct (the 'cape' lineage of D. antarctica, endemic to the New Zealand region), is here described, and named Durvillaea poha sp. nov. Additional molecular analyses (28S sequence data) support the distinct status of this divergent lineage. No evidence of hybridisation among sympatric D. poha and D. antarctica has been observed.