U.S.-Slovak Research on SCENEDESMUS Systematics

这项美国-斯洛伐克关于SCENEDESMUS系统学的研究是由康涅狄格大学的Francis R.Trainor博士和布拉迪斯拉发植物学研究所的Frantisek Hindak博士共同完成的。研究人员的工作将集中在这一著名的淡水浮游藻类的表型可变性和可塑性上。最近对几个物种的大量实验室研究证实，表型可塑性在该属中很常见；一些物种的可塑性远远高于其他物种。在他们的努力下，Trainor博士和Hindak博士将同时使用光学显微镜(LM)和超微结构特征(EM)。首先，他们将完成对S.ARMATUS可塑性的全面分析。然后，他们打算提出一项修改后的物种描述，根据该描述，人们可以依靠一两个生态形态来识别野外物种。与其他种的研究(例如，S.Commis，S.Maximus。S.ABUNDANS和S.OBLIQUUS)将紧随其后。同时，他们希望确认EM特征的可塑性，并假设他们可以将单个壁超微结构特征按有序的发育顺序放置。这些结果将有助于我们了解浮游植物形态可塑性的基本方面，并有望推动藻类系统学和淡水生态学领域的发展。这个植物学项目通过使美国和斯洛伐克的顶尖专家能够将互补的人才结合在一起，并在彼此感兴趣和有能力的领域汇集研究资源，实现了推进科学的计划目标。

This U.S.-Slovak Research on SCENEDESMUS Systematics is between Dr. Francis R. Trainor of the University of Connecticut and Dr. Frantisek Hindak of the Institute of Botany, Bratislava. The reseachers' work will focus on the phenotypic variability and plasticity of this well-known group of freshwater planktonic algae. Numerous recent laboratory studies of several species of SCENEDESMUS confirm that phenotypic plasticity is common within the genus; some species are far more plastic than others. In their efforts Drs. Trainor and Hindak will work with both light microscope (LM) and ultrastructural features (EM). First, they will complete analysis of the full range of plasticity in S. ARMATUS. They then intend to propose an amended species description with which one could identify the species in the field relying on an ecomorph or two. Studies with additional species (e.g., S. COMMUNIS, S. MAXIMUS. S. ABUNDANS, and S. OBLIQUUS) would follow. Simultaneously, they hope to confirm plasticity in EM features and hypothesize that they can place the individual wall ultrastructural features in an ordered sequence of development. Results will contribute to our knowledge of fundamental aspects of morphological plasticity in phytoplankton and are expected to advance the fields of algal systematics and freshwater ecology. This project in botany fulfills the program objectives of advancing science by enabling leading experts in the U.S. and Slovakia to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.