Work

Identity and phylogenetic placement of S pirogyra species (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta) from California streams and elsewhere1

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Diversity of the filamentous green algae in the genus Spirogyra (Zygnematophyceae) was investigated from more than 1,200 stream samples from California. We identified 12 species of Spirogyra not previously known for California (CA), including two species new to science, Spirogyra californica sp. nov. and Spirogyra juliana sp. nov. Environmental preferences of the Californian species are discussed in the light of their restricted distribution to stream habitats with contrasting nutrient levels. We also investigated the systematic relationships of Spirogyra species from several continents using the chloroplast-encoded genes ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/hydrogenase large subunit (rbcL) and the beta subunit of the ATP synthase (atpB). Californian species were positioned in most major clades of Spirogyra. The phylogeny of Spirogyra and its taxonomic implications are discussed, such as the benefits of combining structural and molecular data for more accurate and consistent species identification. Considerable infraspecific genetic variation of globally distributed Spirogyra species was observed across continental scales. This finding suggests that structurally similar species from distant regions may be genetically dissimilar and that Spirogyra may contain a large number of cryptic species. Correlating the morphological and genetic variation within the genus will be a major challenge for future researchers.

Source: Journal of Phycology

DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12070

Authors: Rosalina Stancheva, John D. Hall, Richard M. McCourt, Robert G. Sheath

Institutions: California State University, San Marcos, Drexel University

Language: English

Topic: Protist diversity and phylogeny

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, California State Water Resources Control Board, San Diego State University

Awards: Collaborative Research: Phylogeny and Systematics of the Characeae (Charales), ATOL: Collaborative Research: Assembling the Green Algal Tree of Life (GRAToL)