Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Hybridization of the marine seaweeds, Fucus serratus and Fucus evanescens (Heterokontophyta: Phaeophyceae) in a 100-year-old zone of secondary contact
Coyer, J.A.; Peters, A.F.; Hoarau, G.; Stam, W.T.; Olsen, J.L. (2002). Hybridization of the marine seaweeds, Fucus serratus and Fucus evanescens (Heterokontophyta: Phaeophyceae) in a 100-year-old zone of secondary contact. Proc. - Royal Soc., Biol. Sci. 269(1502): 1829-1834. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2002.2093
In: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. The Royal Society: London. ISSN 0962-8452; e-ISSN 1471-2954, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Fucus; hybridization; introduced species; seaweed

Authors  Top 
  • Coyer, J.A.
  • Peters, A.F.
  • Hoarau, G.

Abstract
    Historically, the intertidal seaweeds Fucus serratus (Fs) and Fucus evanescens (Fe) were sympatric only along the western coast of Norway. In the mid-1890s, Fe (monoecious) was accidentally introduced into the Oslofjord. Putative hybridization with the endemic Fs (dioecious) was observed in Oslofjord by 1977 and in the Kattegat and western Baltic Seas by 1998. At Blushøj, Denmark (Kattegat Sea) putative Fs × Fe hybrids were present only when densities of Fe and Fs exceeded 14 and 2 m?-2, respectively. All of the 58 putative hybrids that were collected in 1999 were dioecious and intermediate in morphology. Essentially all (57 out of 58) were reproductively mature, but the oogonia possessed fewer and more variably sized eggs than either parent. Examination of each parental species and putative hybrids with nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast molecular markers confirmed the occurrence of hybridization. Furthermore, all of the hybrids possessed Fe-type chloroplasts and mitochondria, indicating that only the Fe egg × Fs sperm pairing was successful in the field. The reciprocal cross of Fs egg×Fe sperm was absent in the field and significantly less successful in laboratory crossings. Asymmetrical hybridization has also been reported for several species of plants and animals.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors