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，是一个国家财富的关键组成部分。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，再加上长期监测，以评估随着时间的推移而发生的变化。建立清单需要一个分类系统，以便记录多样性。制定一种自然的(基于关系的)分类还为那些寻求调查相关物种以寻找经济上有用的化合物的人提供了指南。我的主要研究重点是阐明藻类之间的关系，强调两个在生态和经济上具有重要意义的群体--红色(初级)和棕色(次级)海藻。分子工具在得出当代植物区系清单和评估关系方面都是强大的。它们比受融合进化或可塑性形式的环境影响的解剖学表达更客观，因此更能表明相关性。具体目标：1)利用分子工具(DNA条形码)建立加拿大水域第一个完整的红藻和棕藻名录；2)利用分子系统学工具阐明这两个具有广泛代表性的加拿大植物区系的主要谱系内部和目之间的进化关系；3)根据系统发育假说评估红藻特征(如营养和生殖解剖学、生活史模式)的演变；4)根据这些系统发育建立自然分类系统；以及，5)对新不伦瑞克州芬迪湾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富度的波动。新的预期发现：这些结果将为系统学家和自然资源保护者提供宝贵的资源，因为我们试图了解藻类的多样性和关系，并为工业寻找新产品提供宝贵的资源。此外，我们将为该区域建立一个长期数据库，这将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.