Molecular diversity of the Caulerpa racemosa–Caulerpa peltata complex (Caulerpaceae, Bryopsidales) in New Caledonia, with new Australasian records for C. racemosa var. cylindracea

A molecular analysis of the Caulerpa racemosa–Caulerpa peltata complex in New Caledonia revealed five distinct lineages, suggesting hidden species diversity within the group. Globally, the complex comprises six lineages, with two distributed pantropically and four confined to the Indo-Pacific region. Notably, this study reports new Australasian records for Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea, a fast-spreading invasive species previously thought limited to southwestern Australia, including its presence in New Caledonia and northern Australian locations, such as the Great Barrier Reef. The research used plastid-encoded tufA gene sequencing to assess genetic diversity, providing critical insights into the biogeography and taxonomic structure of this ecologically significant group.

Sauvage, T., Payri, C., Draisma, S. G. A., van Reine, W. F. P., Verbruggen, H., Belton, G. S., Gurgel, C. F. D., Gabriel, D., Sherwood, A. R., & Fredericq, S. (2013). Molecular diversity of the Caulerpa racemosa–Caulerpa peltata complex (Caulerpaceae, Bryopsidales) in New Caledonia, with new Australasian records for C. racemosa var. cylindracea. Phycologia, 52(1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.2216/11-116.1