An update on the indigenous vascular flora of sub-Antarctic Marion Island: taxonomic changes, sequences for DNA barcode loci, and genome size data

Abstract

The flora of sub-Antarctic Marion Island forms part of the unique South Indian Ocean Biogeographic Province, and is under threat from climate change and invasive species. Current information on the flora is necessary to rapidly identify and manage future changes. We conducted a literature search on the taxonomy of indigenous vascular plant species on Marion Island and found nomenclatural changes following taxonomic revisions for Austroblechnum penna-marina (Poir.) Gasper & V.A.O.Dittrich, Carex dikei (Nelmes) K.L.Wilson, Leptinella plumosa Hook.f., Notogrammitis crassior (Kirk) Parris, Phlegmariurus saururus (Lam.) B.Øllg., and Polypogon magellanicus (Lam.) Finot. Additionally, Ranunculus moseleyi Hook.f. was removed from our species checklist due to its long absence in floristic surveys, leaving 21 species in the indigenous vascular plant flora present on Marion Island. We also amplified and sequenced the universal plant barcoding loci rbcL and matK for 19 and 13 species, respectively, and found that ample interspecific genetic distance and minimal intraspecific genetic distance allowed for easy discrimination between species. Lastly, we obtained genome size estimates using flow cytometry for 12 species. Mean 2C genome size for species on Marion Island ranged from 0.44 to 21.44 pg, which is on the lower end of the known range for vascular plant species. We detected two distinct cytotypes in Poa cookii (Hook.f.) Hook.f. and one cytotype in all other species measured.