An award has been made to Robert A. Andersen (Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, West Boothbay Harbor, Maine), Rose Ann Cattolico and Gabrielle Rocap (University of Washington, Seattle, Washington), Robert Jansen, Elizabeth Ruck and Edward Theriot (University of Texas, Austin Texas), Matt Julius (St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota), Stefano Draisma (National Herbarium and Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands) and Hiroshi Kawai (Kobe University, Kobe, Japan) to determine the relationships among the heterokont classes by generating two large molecular data sets. Currently, 14 taxonomic classes of heterokont algae are recognized, and they include over 100,000 described species (as many as one million total species has been estimated by experts). Common members include brown seaweeds (e.g., kelp) and the diatoms. Remarkably, despite two centuries of light microscopic study, 50 years of electron microscopic study, and 20 years of molecular investigations, the phylogenetic relationships among the 14 classes remains unknown. DNA sequences of seven nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast genes from 270 heterokont algal species and 30 nonalgal relatives will be obtained and, entire chloroplast genomes from 30 species will be sequenced. The genome sequences will provide important new data for understanding chloroplasts and their origin(s), especially since knowledge in this field is greatly biased toward land plants. Algae serve as the base of the food chain for all organisms that dwell in the ocean and account for approximately half of the global photosynthesis, and therefore they provide approximately 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Members of the heterokont algae vary in morphology from simple unicells to highly complex seaweeds. Brown algae are the principal elements of seaweed beds and these macroalgae have high economic values as food and biomass resources. A number of heterokont algae are harmful to marine life. For example, some algae produce toxins that when concentrated in shellfish kill humans, while other species of heterokonts are well-known fish killers. Conversely, other heterokonts serve as a human food source, they are used in industrial processes and they have found new recognition in the nanotechnology industry. The closest relatives to the heterokont algae are the pseudofungi, which include many plant pathogens, such as the fungus that caused the Irish potato famine, and various molds and mildews. Graduate and undergraduate students and postdoctoral fellows from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds will be supported and trained in a wide diversity of fields, including evolution, genomics, molecular biology, computational biology, and plant biology. the research will be integrated with K-12 educators, public museums and parks using already established programs at several of the participating institutions. A Deep Brown web site already has been established, and it will be greatly expanded as part of this project.
We completed sequencing of 6 genes for 42 chrysophyte/ synurophyte taxa. Analysis of these genes does not support the separation of the chrysophytes and synurophytes as separate taxic groups. The synurophytes appear to be a monophyletic clade nested within the large chrysophyte group. Additionally, data suggest the genera Mallamonas and and Synura may be paraphyletic rather than monophyletic lineages. Data also indicate that at least one strain, Boekelovia hooglandii, has been misidentified as a chrysophyte and is likely a prymnesiophyte. The phylogeny produced for the genes sequenced also support other investigations demonstrating that unicellular genera (specifically Chromulina and Ochromonas) are not monophyletic groups, but rather a collection of polyphyletic species scattered throughout the larger chrysophyte clade. This data is being integrated with that of the other collaborators on the project to provide a holistic view of heterokont phylogeny. Additionally, infra structure created by this project has directly supported activities beyond the theoretical outcomes detailed above. Two start up algal biomass companies, Algaedyne and Garden State Bioenterprises, are partnering with St. Cloud State University to utilize the information and discoveries obtained during this project. Notably, Algaedyne was a finalist in the Green Technology Division of the 2012 MN Cup Entrepreneurship Competition. Additionally, an array of outreach activities have been conducted as part of this project as well. Of particular note is the international education project SimRiver, which was one of ten 2011 recipients of the Japanese E-Learning Award. To date 6 manuscripts have been published or are in press; others are nearing completion and will be submitted in the near future. Publications to Date from EF-0629554 Hawryshyn, J., Ruhland, K.M, Julius, M.L., and Smol, J. 2012. Absence of Evidence is Not Evidence of Absence: Is Stephanodiscus binderanus (Bacillariophyceae) an Exotic Species in the Great Lakes Region. Journal of Phycology. 48: 270-274. Alverson, A.J., Beszteri, B., Julius, M.L., and Therirot, E.C. 2011. The model marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana is the ancestrally freshwater diatom Cyclotella nana. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11: 125. Mayama, S., Katoh, K., Ohmori, H., Seino, S., Osaki, H., Julius, M.L., Lee, J.H., Cheong, C., Lobo, E.A., Witkowski, A., Srivibool, R.,Muangphra, P., Jahn, R., and Kulikovsky, M. 2011. Progress toward Construction of an International Web-based Educational System Featuring Improved SimRiver for Understanding of the River Environment. Asian Journal of Biology Education. 5: 2-14. Hoffer, J., Mayama, S., Lingle, K, Conroy, K, and Julius, M.L. 2011. SimRiver, Environmental Modeling Software for the Secondary Science Classroom. Science Scope 34 (5) 29-33. Julius, M.L. and Theriot, E.C. 2010. The Diatoms: A Primer. Chapter 2. In: Stoermer E.F. and Smol J. eds. The Diatoms: Applications for the Environmental and Earth Sciences. Cambridge University Press. Julius, M.L. 2007. Perspectives on the evolution and diversification of the diatoms. pp. 1-13In Pond Scum to Carbon Sink: Geological and Environmental Applications of the Diatoms, Paleontological Society Short Course, October 27, 2007. Paleontological Society Papers, Volume 13, Starratt, S. (Ed.). Copyright © 2007 The Paleontological Society. Masters' Students Supportted by EF-0629554 Lindgren, R. Department of Biological Sciences, Thesis Topic: Cyanotoxins in Blue-Green Algae, Chair, Graduation Date Fall 2008. (MS) Stepanek, J.G. Department of Biological Sciences, Thesis Topic: Functional Morphology of Benthic Diatom Species. Chair. Graduation Date Spring 2010. Hoffer, J. Department of Biological Sciences, Thesis Topic: Tree Thinking in K-12 Education. Chair. Graduation Date Spring 2010.
