Identification Of Major Geographic Populations Of Ulva Sp. In East China And Ulva Sp. In Ballast Water

Ulva genus (Ulva sp.) belongs to Chlorophyta, Chlorophyceae, widely distributed in theoceans of the world. In recent years, green tide disasters occur frequently and have become aworldwide marine environmental issue. The vast majority of the green tides are caused by Ulvagenus. In this study, we do the research as follows: First, We using Ulva sp. collected inShangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejian, and Fujian during2008-2012as the research object,47selectedspecimens from major geographic populations in East China were assessed by using bothmorphological and molecular (rbcl sequences) data. In addition,5S rDNA analyses wereperformed for those samples clustering in the LPP clade. This combination of methods allowed theidentification of six lineages, which were considered to represent the following species: U.prolifera、U. compressa、U.pertusa、U. flexuosa、U. linza、U.ohnio; The Ulva speciesdistribution is different in different areas; Second, large-scale green tides have repeatedly occurredin Shandong coasts of China. In2011-2012, three free-floating Ulva species were distinguishedand described: U. prolifera, U. pertusa and U. compressa. Compared with the result identifiedduring2008-2009, the U. prolifera is still the dominant green tide algae species, followed by U.pertusa, and U. compressa occurres rarely.Third, ballast water have been shown to cause severeenvironmental, economic and public health impacts.The ballast waters coming from Busan ofSouth Korea have been collected in the Meishan harbour of Ningbo port (China) in2012. OneUlva sp. sample has been successfully cultured in the collected ballast water. According to theseresults, the sample was identified as U. prolifera O.F. Müller. To our knowledge, this is the firstreport of U. prolifera transported by imported ballast water; this is also the first report ofintercepted U. prolifera from entry ballast water in China; The research carried out Ulva sp.resources investigation work, it is great significance for the prevention and occurrence of the exoticpest or green tides.