Species diversity of the brown alga Lobophora (Dictyotales) in the Con Co Island Marine Protected Area, Vietnam

Abstract We reevaluated species diversity of the brown alga Lobophora in Vietnam’s Con Co Marine Protected Area (MPA), where only one species had previously been reported. Integrating morphological, ecological, and molecular analyses, we redefined the genus diversity, identifying nine species including two new ones: L. asiatica, L. boussoleae, L. lamourouxii, L. obscura1, L. pachyventera3, L. thailandensis, L. quangtriensis sp. nov., L. vietnamensis sp. nov., and Lobophora sp.1VNA. Lobophora variegata, the sole species previously reported, was absent. This study expands the number of Vietnam’s documented Lobophora species to 11. This work reevaluated Lobophora diversity in Vietnam based on a small island, contributing valuable seaweed diversity reference data for Con Co MPA management. Notably, within the MPA, Lobophora species exhibited no coral-aggressiveness, potentially serving as a health indicator for coral reef communities.