The coexistence of cryptic algal species: Temporal and spatial distribution of filamentous members of the red algal order Bangiales in the Wellington region

Current research on marine cryptic species, through the use of molecular tools, is revealing unexpected diversity and relationships [...]. A number of cryptic filamentous Bangiales have been recorded from Wellington, New Zealand; all morphologically indistinguishable and all apparently occupying the same niche within the upper inter-tidal. Researchers have reported finding more than one member of the filamentous Bangiales coexisting at a single location in Wellington’s inner harbour (Farr et al. 2001, Wendy Nelson pers. comm.).  This raises the question: to what extent are these cryptic lineages coexisting? Are there differences in their temporal and spatial distribution? Does distribution at a small-scale, within sites in the Wellington region, reflect the physiological differences and ecological adaption reported from the culture studies of Bödeker et al. 2008?  This research sought to investigate the small-scale distribution of these cryptic lineages to test for temporal or spatial variation, and draw conclusions about the nature of their coexistence in the Wellington region. To achieve this, samples were taken from six sites in Wellington over a period of nine months. Molecular methods, as described in Chapter 2, were utilised to identify the various taxa. This identification data then provided the basis for the ecological analyses presented in Chapter 3.