More than What Meets the Eye: Differential Spatiotemporal Distribution of Cryptic Intertidal Bangiales.

ABSTRACT: Morphologically similar but genetically distinct species have been termed cryptic and most have been assumed to be ecologically similar. However, if these species co-occur at a certain spatial scale, some niche differences at finer scales should be expected to allow for coexistence. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a disjointed distribution of cryptic bladed Bangiales along spatial (intertidal elevations) and temporal (seasons) environmental gradients. Bladed Bangiales were identified and quantified across four intertidal elevations and four seasons for one year, at five rocky intertidal sites (between 39° S and 43° S) in southern Chile. Species determination was based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene amplification. To assess species gross mo

SUBMITTER: Cid Alda FP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8912569 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature