Paula Michelle Bustos

Ms. Paula Michelle Bustos


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 October 2026 in Phycology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
PBPaula Michelle Bustos
Paula Michelle Bustos
PHPilar Haye
Pilar Haye
NRN/A Ramírez
N/A Ramírez
BRBenjamin Alejandro Pinilla Rojas
Benjamin Alejandro Pinilla Rojas
LFLaura Farías
Laura Farías
Loretto Contreras-PorciaLoretto Contreras-Porcia
Loretto Contreras-Porcia
Marine green tides are ecological phenomena caused by the massive proliferation of green macroalgae, particularly species of the genus Ulva, whose frequency and geographic extent have increased worldwide. These events are commonly associated with interacting anthropogenic and environmental drivers, including nutrient enrichment, coastal modification, climatic variability, and hydrodynamic retention. In Chile, green tides have been reported in several coastal bays, including Coliumo Bay; however, systematic studies on their species composition have been largely restricted to Algarrobo Bay, another coastal upwelling-influenced embayment located in central Chile. In this study, we investigated the laminar Ulva species associated with recurrent summer green tides at Dichato Beach, located in Coliumo Bay, Biobío Region, Chile. Twenty specimens were collected during the 2025 green tide and analyzed using an integrative approach that combined detailed morphological characterization with molecular analyses based on the tufA and ITS1 markers. Our results revealed the presence of three laminar, foliose, and distromatic taxa: Ulva australis, Ulva stenophylloides, and an unresolved lineage designated as Ulva sp. (D4). These taxa showed consistent morphological differentiation in traits such as thallus color, frond margin morphology, and perforation patterns. Phylogenetic analyses further indicated that Ulva sp. (D4) did not cluster with any described species included in the analyses, supporting its recognition as a distinct lineage that may represent an undescribed taxon. This study expands the known distribution of U. australis and U. stenophylloides in the southeastern Pacific and highlights the relevance of integrative taxonomy for resolving green tide diversity and supporting future ecological monitoring and management strategies in Chilean coastal systems.