ATOL: Collaborative Research: Assembling the Green Algal Tree of Life (GRAToL)

绿色藻类生命树（GRAToL）是一个涉及五个机构合作的项目，旨在了解绿色藻类的所有主要群体的进化关系，这是一个由全球14，000多种光合物种组成的多样化群体。 绿色藻类数量丰富，在各种陆地和水生生境中发挥重要作用，包括沙漠、极咸池塘和珊瑚礁，有几个物种与地衣和动物共生。 因此，绿色藻类是大多数生态系统中重要的初级生产者。 绿色藻类形态多样--从微观的单细胞到大型海藻--在大多数生态系统中起着重要的初级生产者的作用。 该项目将利用DNA序列数据组装一棵反映该群体进化历史的生命树。 这棵树对于改进已知藻类物种的分类以及尚未发现的物种至关重要。 该项目将为绿色藻类基因组学和进化的进一步研究提供便利，培养3-4名博士后研究人员、若干名研究生和大量本科生从事藻类和基因组学的基础研究。 将开发新的分析工具，供更广泛的科学界使用。 将制作一个关于GRAToL的公开展览，沿着一个网站，其中载有教育工作者和公众感兴趣的关于该群体演变的图像和其他信息。

The Green Algae Tree of Life (GRAToL) is a project involving the collaboration of five institutions to understand the evolutionary relationships of all of the major groups of green algae, a diverse group of more than 14,000 photosynthetic species worldwide. Green algae are abundant and play important roles in a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, including deserts, extremely salty ponds, and coral reefs, and several species are symbiotic partners with lichens and animals. Thus, green algae are important primary producers in most ecosystems. Green algae are diverse in form - from microscopic single cells to large seaweeds - and function as important primary producers in most ecosystems. The project will employ DNA sequence data to assemble a tree of life reflecting the evolutionary history of the group. This tree will be critical for an improved classification of known species of algae as well as species that are yet to be discovered. The project will facilitate further studies of green algae genomics and evolution.The project will train 3-4 postdoctoral researchers, several graduate students, and numerous undergraduate students in basic research on algae and genomics. New analytical tools will be developed for use by the broader scientific community. A public exhibit on the GRAToL will be produced, along with a web site containing images and other information on evolution of the group that will be of interest to educators and the general public.