Complete chloroplast genome of Chondria tumulosa (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta), a recently described cryptogenic species with invasive traits from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiʻi

Researchers have sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast genome of Chondria tumulosa, a red alga from Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The genome spans 172,617 base pairs and encodes 231 genes, including protein-coding, transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, and non-coding RNA genes, mirroring the structure of other Rhodomelaceae family members. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that C. tumulosa is a distinct species within the Chondrieae tribe, representing an early diverging lineage relative to other known Chondria species. This discovery sheds light on the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of red algae in this region, with potential implications for understanding invasive traits.

Paiano, M. O., Kosaki, R. K., Williams, T. M., Spalding, H. L., & Sherwood, A. R. (2021). Complete chloroplast genome of Chondria tumulosa (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta), a recently described cryptogenic species with invasive traits from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaiʻi. Mitochondrial DNA Part B, 6(11), 3119–3121. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2021.1984327