Molecular systematics & biodiversity of marine macroalgae with emphasis on the Canadian flora

生物多样性对健康的生态系统至关重要，是国家财富的重要组成部分。为了管理和保护这一资源，必须从遗传到生态系统层面了解生物多样性。这项任务的一部分是编制生物清单，同时进行长期监测，以评估随时间的变化。建立清单需要一个分类系统，以记录多样性。发展自然的（基于关系的）分类还为那些寻求调查相关物种以寻找经济有用化合物的人提供了指南。我的主要研究重点是阐明藻类关系，强调两个生态和经济上重要的群体-红（初级）和棕色（次级）海藻。分子工具在获得当代植物区系清单和评估关系方面都很强大。与可能受趋同进化或环境可塑性影响的解剖表达相比，它们更客观，因此更能表明亲缘关系。具体目标：1)利用分子工具（DNA条形码）建立首个加拿大水域红藻和褐藻综合清单；2)利用分子系统工具阐明这两个具有广泛代表性的加拿大植物群的主要谱系内部和之间的进化关系；3)根据系统发育假说评估红藻特征的进化（如营养和生殖解剖、生活史模式）；4)建立基于这些系统发生的自然分类系统；5)对新不伦瑞克省芬迪湾沿岸的大型藻类生物多样性进行长期的季节性评估，以记录物种丰富度和丰度的波动。新的预期发现：当我们试图欣赏藻类的多样性和关系时，这些结果将为系统学家和保护主义者提供宝贵的资源，并为寻找新产品的工业提供宝贵的资源。此外，我们将为该区域建立一个长期数据库，使我们能够更好地区分自然波动和人为扰动。

Biological diversity is essential for healthy ecosystems and is a key component of a nation's wealth. To manage and conserve this resource it is imperative to understand biodiversity from the genetic to ecosystem level. Part of this task is the preparation of biological inventories, coupled with long term monitoring to assess change over time. Establishing inventories requires a system of classification in which to document diversity. Developing a natural (based on relationships) classification additionally provides a guide for those seeking to survey related species for economically useful compounds. My major research focus is the elucidation of algal relationships emphasizing two ecologically and economically important groups - red (primary) and brown (secondary) seaweeds. Molecular tools are powerful for deriving both contemporary floristic checklists and assessing relationships. They are more objective and, thus, more indicative of relatedness, than are anatomical expressions that may be influenced by convergent evolution or the environment in the form of plasticity. Specific objectives: To: 1) use molecular tools (DNA barcoding) to establish the first comprehensive list of red and brown algae for Canadian waters; 2) use molecular systematic tools to elucidate the evolutionary relationships within and among orders of these two major lineages with wide representation of the Canadian flora; 3) assess the evolution of red algal characteristics (e.g., vegetative and reproductive anatomy, life history pattern) in light of phylogenetic hypotheses; 4) establish natural classification systems based on these phylogenies; and, 5) maintain a long-term seasonal assessment of macroalgal biodiversity along the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick to document fluctuations in species richness and abundance. Novel expected findings: The results will provide an invaluable resource to systematists and conservationists as we attempt to appreciate algal diversity and relationships, and for industry in the search for novel products. Further, we will establish a long-term database for the region, which will better enable us to discern natural fluctuations from anthropogenic perturbations.