Phase One (2000-2002)

1. Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of the Chlorophyceae using 18S rDNA (NSF DEB 9726588). COMPLETED

2. Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of the Chlorophyceae using 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA (NSF DEB 9726588). COMPLETED

3. Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of the chlamydomonad lineage using 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA (NSF DEB 9726588). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; NEW LINEAGES CONTINUE TO BE DISCOVERED (Buchheim et al. 2006, Phylogeny of Halophilic and Halotolerant Chlamydomonads, Journal of Phycology [in review]).

Phase Two (2002-2006)

1. Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of the Chlorophyta using 18S rDNA, 26S rDNA and rbcL. NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED

2. Map morphological characters to the molecular phylogeny and identify critical taxa for which morphological data are needed. NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; ANALYSES UNDERWAY

3. Explore meta-analysis (combined morphology and molecules) using green algal groups for which complete data sets are available. NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; ANALYSES UNDERWAY

4. Reconstruct a robust molecular phylogeny for exemplars of the chlorophytan classes Chlorophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, and Ulvophyceae (using 18S rDNA, 26S rDNA and chloroplast rbcL). NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; ANALYSES UNDERWAY

5. Identify new chlorophytan lineages through broad, taxon sampling strategies. NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; ANALYSES UNDERWAY: SEVERAL NEW LINEAGES IDENTIFIED, SEVERAL NEW GENERA DESCRIBED, AND PRELIMINARY DATA PRESENTED FOR A NEW BASAL CHLOROPHYTAN LINEAGE

6. Identify and begin developing new data sets for molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Chlorophyta. NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED FOR atpB (CHLOROPLAST-ENCODED, PROTEIN-CODING GENE) IN CHLOROPHYCEAE, TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE AND ULVOPHYCEAE.

^NEW!7. Begin molecular evolutionary assessment of protein-coding genes (rbcL and atpB). NSF DEB 0129030 (2/15/02-2/14/06). DATA COLLECTION COMPLETED; ANALYSES UNDERWAY.

Phase Three (2006-2010)

1. Reconstruct a molecular phylogeny of the Viridiplantae using 18S rDNA, 26S rDNA, rbcL and atpB.

2. Integrate new molecular phylogenetic data (e.g., atpB, cp16S rRNA, cp 23S rRNA, tufA, actin, etc.) with 18S rDNA, 26S rDNA and rbcL for the Chlorophyta and begin new round of hypothesis testing--the ultimate goal is ca. 10,000 bases per taxon.

3. Reconstruct a non-molecular phylogeny for exemplars of the Chlorophyta using gross morphology and electron microscopy.

>Back to Main Page<