U.S.-Slovak Research on SCENEDESMUS Systematics

美国-斯洛伐克对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种众所周知的淡水浮游藻类的表型变异性和可塑性上。最近对几种SCENEDESMUS的大量实验室研究证实，表型可塑性在属中很常见；有些物种比其他物种更具可塑性。在他们的努力中。Trainor和Hindak将使用光学显微镜（LM）和超微结构特征（EM）进行研究。首先，他们将完成S. ARMATUS的全范围塑性分析。然后，他们打算提出一个修正的物种描述，人们可以在野外依靠一两个生态形态来识别物种。对其他物种的研究（如：s.s COMMUNIS, s.s MAXIMUS）。S. abundance和S. OBLIQUUS)也会紧随其后。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的超微结构特征置于有序的发育序列中。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在共同感兴趣和有能力的领域结合互补的人才和汇集研究资源，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.