New distributional record for <i>Pyropia koreana</i>: confirmed to occur on the South Island, New Zealand

doi:2014.29.3.177

Algae > Volume 29(3); 2014 > Article

Algae 2014;29(3): 177-181. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2014.29.3.177

New distributional record for Pyropia koreana: confirmed to occur on the South Island, New Zealand

Wendy A. Nelson¹^,2^,*, Judith E. Sutherland², Mi Sook Hwang³ and Han-Gu Choi⁴

¹National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Private Bag 14-901, Wellington 6241, New Zealand
²School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92-019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
³Seaweed Research Center, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Mokpo 530-831, Korea
⁴Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, KIOST, Incheon 406-840, Korea

*Corresponding Author

Email: wendy.nelson@niwa.co.nz

ABSTRACT

An epiphytic bladed member of the Bangiales was found growing in Christchurch (South Island, New Zealand). Molecular sequence data and morphological comparisons revealed that the New Zealand specimens belong to the species Pyropia koreana (M. S. Hwang & I. K. Lee) M. S. Hwang, H. G. Choi, Y. S. Oh & I. K. Lee. This is the first record of Py. koreana in the southern hemisphere and a new record of an introduced species in New Zealand.

Key words: Bangiales; introduced species; New Zealand; Pyropia koreana; southern hemisphere