Taxonomy of the Prasiolaceae - Angewandte Ökologie & Phykologie

Integrated approaches to address taxonomic problems in the Prasiolaceae (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)

Bladed Prasiola furfuracea grows next to bird droppings on a stone (Rostock, Northern Germany).

Members of the green algal family Prasiolaceae (Trebouxiophyceae) occur especially in high-nutrient environments along seashores and inland, in temperate and polar regions. As an integral part of cryptogamic covers, they exhibit unique ecological traits, however, many aspectes of their biology are still unknown. Recent molecular genetic studies have revealed an unexpected biodiversity in the Prasiolaceae, but these studies also highlighted taxonomic problems within and between morphology-based genera. To enable future studies in this family of ecologically important primary producers, a clear and reproducible application of taxonomic names is required. This project aims to address a number of taxonomic issues which exist within the family, using an integrated approach combining the discovery of new entities from both northern and southern hemispheres with culture studies, the sequencing of herbarium specimens, and multi-marker phylogenetic analyses of established taxa.