TY - CHAP
T1 - The taxonomy of cyanobacteria: molecular insights into a difficult problem
AU - Hayes, Paul
AU - El-Semary, N.
AU - Sanchez-Baracaldo, P.
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Cyanobacteria have been classified using features of their morphology and development, but manyphenotypic characters vary as environmental conditions change, and therefore, molecular methods have also been used to describe diversity within this group. The methods used include phylogenetic reconstruction based on one or a few gene sequences, DNA fingerprinting techniques, and analysis of population genetic structures. The application of these methods has revealed previously hidden diversity in morphologically depauperate taxa, such as Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, and has shown that diversity has been overestimated in character-rich genera such as Nodularia and Microcystis. The need for a taxonomic approach that makes use of both stable phenotypic characters and molecular markers (i.e., a polyphasic approach) is discussed, as is the demonstration of how such an approach has helped to define species boundaries in Nodularia and Anabaena.
AB - Cyanobacteria have been classified using features of their morphology and development, but manyphenotypic characters vary as environmental conditions change, and therefore, molecular methods have also been used to describe diversity within this group. The methods used include phylogenetic reconstruction based on one or a few gene sequences, DNA fingerprinting techniques, and analysis of population genetic structures. The application of these methods has revealed previously hidden diversity in morphologically depauperate taxa, such as Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, and has shown that diversity has been overestimated in character-rich genera such as Nodularia and Microcystis. The need for a taxonomic approach that makes use of both stable phenotypic characters and molecular markers (i.e., a polyphasic approach) is discussed, as is the demonstration of how such an approach has helped to define species boundaries in Nodularia and Anabaena.
M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)
SN - 9780849379895
T3 - Systematics Association Special Volume
SP - 93
EP - 101
BT - Unraveling the algae: the past, present and future of algal systematics
A2 - Brodie, J.
A2 - Lewis, J.
PB - Taylor & Francis
CY - Florida
ER -