Systematics of the Dinophyceae

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This four year study is designed to accumulate and examine external morphological, cytological, and developmental data from representatives of different dinoflagellate groups. The dinoflagellate algae are very peculiar organisms that possess several more variations in their cells than do the majority of eukaryotic algae and protozoa. Specifically, we propose to test traditional systematic concepts of the dinoflagellates with these data via cladistic analyses of the data we have at hand, those from collaborative laboratories, and those we propose to obtain. These data will also allow us to test current and previous opinion concerning the natural relationships of the dinoflagellates and the other protistan groups. This proposal represents one of the first integrative approaches toward deciphering the affinities of the dinoflagellates. Another important aspect of the proposed studies is to investigate the nature of peculiar dinoflagellates found only from remote marine and freshwater locations in North America and to compare these taxa with those from culture collections.