| Abstract Detail
Resolving the green branch of life: Current progress and future challenges McManus, Hilary A. [1], Lewis, Louise A. [1]. Integrating molecular and morphological data to infer phylogeny in the Chlorophyta. The green algae comprise five classes that occur in marine and fresh waters, as well as terrestrially in soil and snow. They are morphologically diverse and ubiquitous, yet only 17,000 species have been defined for this group. Traditionally, similarities in overall growth forms served the basis for classifications, however studies of the flagellar apparatus ultrastructure, mitosis and cytokinesis, life history, and more recently molecular sequence data, have illustrated that the morphological characters used to define the groups arose independently multiple times due to similar environmental selection pressures. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analyses are revealing hidden genetic variation and offering information regarding convergent evolution. Highlighted is progress made in resolving evolutionary relationships within the green algae, with references to studies incorporating both molecular and morphological data to infer phylogenies or explore morphological evolution and the taxonomic importance of characters.
1 - University of Connecticut, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 75 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, Connecticut, 06269-3043, USA
Keywords: Chlorophyta morphology phylogeny molecular data.
Presentation Type: Symposium Session: 56-1 Location: Ballroom 3 (Cliff Lodge) Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2004 Time: 1:30 PM Abstract ID:201 |