Molecular divergence between Iridaea cordata (Turner) Bory de Saint-Vincent from the Antarctic Peninsula and the Magellan Region

摘要: The distribution of the Southern Ocean (SO) biota is result major geological, oceanographic, and climate changes during last 50 million years (Ma). Several groups marine benthic organisms exhibit marked taxonomic similarities between Antarctic Peninsula southern South America, where families, genera, even species are currently co-distributed in these continents. macroalgae including Gigartina skottsbergii, Plocamium cartilagineum, Iridaea cordata found on both sides Drake Passage. Advances molecular techniques have allowed estimating phylogenetic relationships, levels differentiation divergence time estimates populations from continents order to determine whether they constitute separate evolutionary units. In this study, we represents same unit America or if two Passage represent different genetic lineages. According our results, I. clearly distinguishable units with 8.31% 3.17% mtDNA cpDNA divergence, respectively. separation American occurred at end Miocene, 5 Ma (rbcL) 9 Ma (COI-5P). These results similar those reported G. skottsbergii Thus, should be considered sister species. Cryptic speciation plays an important role evolution Ocean; thus, systematics, biogeography, biodiversity region require revisions.