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Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape

Bibliography: leaves 116-143.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Govender, Kershini
Other Authors: Bolton, John J
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Govender, Kershini
author2 Bolton, John J
author_browse Bolton, John J
Govender, Kershini
author_facet Bolton, John J
Govender, Kershini
author_sort Govender, Kershini
collection Thesis
description Bibliography: leaves 116-143.
format Thesis
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
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license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Biological Sciences
publisherStr Department of Biological Sciences
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6258 Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape Govender, Kershini Bolton, John J Coyne, Vernon Bibliography: leaves 116-143. Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) encompasses some of the world's most valuable agarophytes and has accordingly been the subject of much research in recent decades. Gracilaria, however, has presented a problem to taxonomists over the years in that extreme phenotypic variability in certain entities, and the occurrence of similar morphologies among different taxa (in both Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis), combine to impede species recognition. Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis occur naturally from the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa to northern Namibia and the genetic variation within this widespread species or species complex is unknown. In this study, samples were connected from various locations within the Langebaan Lagoon-Saldanha Bay system and the nearby St. Helena Bay. Their positions were accurately mapped with the aid of a Global Positioning System (GPS). Reproductive structures are of great taxonomic importance within the Gracilariaceae. The local utility of reproductive features is questionable however, as south western Cape material is very seldom fertile which presents a problem for identification. External morphology lacks taxonomic significance due to the isomorphic nature of terete taxa. It was found that one cannot differentiate between Gracilaria gracilis and Gracilariopsis longissima based on external morphology. Adding to this, it was found that under varying ecological conditions different external morphologies occur. Although these specimens appear different externally, molecular studies show that they belong to the same species. Various molecular methods have proven successful in differentiating within and between populations, species and genera in the Gracilariaceae. Sequencing results of a 299 bp variable region of the ISS rRNA gene reveal that G. gracilis predominates in the Langebaan Lagoon-Saldanha Bay system, whereas Gp. Longissima predominates in the St. Helena Bay system. From the AFLP data one can infer that Saldanha Bay isolates display moderate divergence, probably due to favourable ecological conditions in this locality. 2014-08-13T14:19:15Z 2014-08-13T14:19:15Z 2001 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6258 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Govender, Kershini
Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
title_full Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
title_fullStr Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
title_full_unstemmed Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
title_short Population genetic studies of economically important Gracilaria and Gracilariopsis (Rhodophyta) in the south western Cape
title_sort population genetic studies of economically important gracilaria and gracilariopsis rhodophyta in the south western cape
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6258
work_keys_str_mv AT govenderkershini populationgeneticstudiesofeconomicallyimportantgracilariaandgracilariopsisrhodophytainthesouthwesterncape