DNA Barcoding of Red Algae from Bocas del Toro, Panamá, with a Description of Gracilaria bocatorensis sp. nov. and G. dreckmannii sp. nov. (Gracilariales, Gracilariaceae)

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago on the Caribbean coast of Panamá, recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. While marine red macroalgae in the Western Atlantic are well studied, the marine flora of Panamá, particularly Bocas del Toro, remains underexplored using DNA barcoding. This study documents the diversity of marine red macroalgae in the region using COI-5P barcoding to identify species, detect cryptic diversity, and assess the presence of invasive and amphi-isthmian species. Specimens collected in 2008 and 2009 yielded 179 COI-5P sequences. Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) were assigned to 82 genetic clusters, many lacking GenBank matches, suggesting potential new species. Morphology and phylogenetic analyses of rbcL, UPA, and cox1 confirmed two new species of Gracilaria (G. bocatorensis sp. nov. and G. dreckmannii sp. nov.). Despite advances in DNA barcoding, red macroalgal diversity in Panamá remains understudied, particularly Corallinales, where rbcL sequences are lacking. No introduced or amphi-isthmian species were detected. This study adds 16 new species records for the Caribbean coast of Panamá, emphasizing the importance of DNA barcoding in biodiversity research.