Taxonomy and diversity of the mode of photosymbiosis in ascidians harboring algal symbionts.

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Biogeography of the photosymbiotic ascidians was studied in the Ryukyu Archipelago and Taiwan. During the survey, we found four undescribed species and newly described them as new species. As for Diplosoma species, we determined the partial sequences of the COI gene to establish the basis of the DNA-barcodes as species-tags in this group. We demonstrated that each morphotype of Didemnum molle sensu lato can be distinguished with the COI gene sequences from one another, suggesting that the speciation had been occurred in this species group. The modes of trans-generational transmission of photosymbionts were ultrastructural examined in two Lissoclinum species to show the diversity of the mode of the algal transmission. The stigma numbers and the spicule morphology was evaluated as characters for species identification.