A Numerical Taxonomic Study of Fucus Distichus (Phaeophyta)

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Rice, E. L., Chapman, A. R. O.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1985
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Pacific; Iceland; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315400050530; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315400050530

The genus Fucus L. is widely distributed through the cool temperate waters of the north Atlantic and north Pacific oceans. The very large number of sub-generic taxa (> 100) previously recognized was reduced by Powell (1963) to only 6 species. In his revision, Powell recognized F. distichus L. emend. Powell as the most variable of these. He classified the intra-specific variation in this species into 4 sub-species: F. distichus distichus, F. distichus anceps (Harv. et Ward ex. Carruthers) Powell, F. distichus evanescens (C.Ag) Powell and F. distichus edentatus (Pyl.) Powell. Because of reports that intermediate forms existed in Iceland (Jonsson, 1903) and the Faeröes (Börgesen, 1902), Powell (1957 a , b ) decided to use sub-specific status rather than specific designation for these 4 taxa. However, within North America the 4 sub-species of F. distichus were often assigned specific rank (e.g. Taylor, 1957).