PYROLYSIS MASS-SPECTROMETRY AS A TECHNIQUE FOR STUDYING INTERSPECIFICAND INTRASPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE GENUS FUCUS

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) was used to investigate the relatio nships of members of the genus Fucus (F, spiralis, F. vesiculosus, F, ceranoides and F. serratus), and between F. spiralis and F. spiralis f orma nanus. Fucus spiralis and F. spiralis forma nanus were not separa ble by PyMS and are thus a single species. Fucus spiralis, F. vesiculo sus, F. ceranoides and F. serratus were separable and their status as species confirmed. The pattern of relatedness between these species su ggests a re-evaluation of their evolutionary history in that F. spiral is, F. vesiculosus and F. serratus are more similar to one another tha n to F. ceranoides. Pyrolysis mass spectrometry was also used to inves tigate the position of plants identified as putative hybrids between F . spiralis and F. vesiculosus. These plants were found to be intermedi ate between the two species thus confirming morphological evidence.