Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

18 Feb, 06 AM - 18 Feb, 09 AM

The cool temperate northeast Pacific region from California to the Aleutian Islands is one of the richest in species of plants and animals despite episodes of glaciation during the Pleistocene that covered areas from Puget Sound northward with ice. Although this region has been well studied, there is no consensus on nearshore marine biogeographic provinces or patterns. Molecular studies of seaweeds in this region are providing evidence to support some old as well as some new ideas about biogeographic breaks, including (1) Cape Mendocino, California, providing a natural barrier to the distribution of benthic marine species, (2) some species at the eastern end of the Strait of Juan de Fuca on southern Vancouver Island being genetically separated from populations west of Whiffin Spit along the Strait, (3) the northern Gulf of Alaska being a geographic endpoint for both eastern and western distributions of species as well as an area with a modest amount of endemism, (4) and the Aleutian Islands offering examples of species clines from east to west, relict populations and species, as well as recently evolved species. These geographically wide ranging studies of seaweed genotypes have also revealed much cryptic diversity. What was once thought to be the most common red alga on the coast (Mastocarpus papillatus) is now known to be a complex of at least five and possibly seven or more species. The economically important and highly edible genus Porphyra also contains several previously unrecognized species in this region as does the red algal family Palmariaceae. These studies will continue to document important biogeographic patterns as well as uncover more hidden diversity among benthic marine algae, which may help us better understand the role glaciation may have played in speciation.

Visit #20097 @Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 20992 | Research

Biogeography of speciation in the northeast Pacific

faculty - University of British Columbia

Reservation Members(s)

Sandra Lindstrom Feb 18, 2010 (1 days)
Sandra Lindstrom Feb 18, 2010 (1 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Housing - Bedroom 2 2 Feb 18 (3 hours)