Chapter 2 Seagrass Genetics and Evolution
33
Fig. 4. ITS parsimony phylogram of Halophila (bootstrap support shown adjacent to nodes), localities of collections shown next to
species name (adapted from Waycott et al., 2003).
et al. (2003) who analysed the chloroplast gene region matK. Their results suggest that Z. noltii and Z.
japonica are sister to the combined taxon Z. muelleri (=Z. capricorni of Les et al., 2002). Further
exploration of the intrageneric relationships would
be useful to provide insight into suggestions of creating additional genera within the family by Tomlinson
and Posluszny (2001).
The taxonomy and systematics of Ruppia is in
serious need of study. Until recently, Ruppia had
been placed within the family Potamogetonaceae,
usually as a separate subfamily. Les et al. (1993)
showed that rbcL data placed Ruppia closer to
Cymodoceaceae (Syringodium). The alliance of Cymodoceaceae, Ruppiaceae, and Posidoniaceae was
verified in later, more comprehensive studies (Waycott and Les, 1996; Les et al., 1997). The actual
number of Ruppia species is not known with any
certainty. Cook (1996) reported 2–10 species worldwide. The study by Les et al. (1997) included only
33
Fig. 4. ITS parsimony phylogram of Halophila (bootstrap support shown adjacent to nodes), localities of collections shown next to
species name (adapted from Waycott et al., 2003).
et al. (2003) who analysed the chloroplast gene region matK. Their results suggest that Z. noltii and Z.
japonica are sister to the combined taxon Z. muelleri (=Z. capricorni of Les et al., 2002). Further
exploration of the intrageneric relationships would
be useful to provide insight into suggestions of creating additional genera within the family by Tomlinson
and Posluszny (2001).
The taxonomy and systematics of Ruppia is in
serious need of study. Until recently, Ruppia had
been placed within the family Potamogetonaceae,
usually as a separate subfamily. Les et al. (1993)
showed that rbcL data placed Ruppia closer to
Cymodoceaceae (Syringodium). The alliance of Cymodoceaceae, Ruppiaceae, and Posidoniaceae was
verified in later, more comprehensive studies (Waycott and Les, 1996; Les et al., 1997). The actual
number of Ruppia species is not known with any
certainty. Cook (1996) reported 2–10 species worldwide. The study by Les et al. (1997) included only