Genetic diversity and distribution of edible brown algae from Ulreongdo Island, Korea

Abstract

This study provides, for the first time, the occurrence of five species of edible scytosiphonacean algae from Ulleungdo Island P. binghamiae, P. fascia, P. zosterifolia, and two cryptic species of S. lomentaria. Our study reveals the low genetic diversity in P. binghamiae, while high genetic diversity in S. lomentaria. The difference in genetic diversity may reflect a difference in evolutionary history and contemporary dispersals experienced by each species. Ulleungdo Island, being small in size but diverse in genetic diversity, is an ideal field laboratory to investigate effect of ocean warming in shaping genetic diversity and distributions of edible brown algae and other economic marine algae.enetic diversity in P. binghamiae, while high genetic diversity in S. lomentaria. The difference in genetic diversity may reflect a difference in evolutionary history and contemporary dispersals experienced by each species. Ulleungdo Island, being small in size but diverse in genetic diversity, is an ideal field laboratory to investigate effect of ocean warming in shaping genetic diversity and distributions of edible brown algae and other economic marine algae.