This U.S.-Slovak Research on SCENEDESMUS Systematics is between Dr. Francis R. Trainor of the University of Connecticut and Dr. Frantisek Hindak of the Institute of Botany, Bratislava. The reseachers' work will focus on the phenotypic variability and plasticity of this well-known group of freshwater planktonic algae. Numerous recent laboratory studies of several species of SCENEDESMUS confirm that phenotypic plasticity is common within the genus; some species are far more plastic than others. In their efforts Drs. Trainor and Hindak will work with both light microscope (LM) and ultrastructural features (EM). First, they will complete analysis of the full range of plasticity in S. ARMATUS. They then intend to propose an amended species description with which one could identify the species in the field relying on an ecomorph or two. Studies with additional species (e.g., S. COMMUNIS, S. MAXIMUS. S. ABUNDANS, and S. OBLIQUUS) would follow. Simultaneously, they hope to confirm plasticity in EM features and hypothesize that they can place the individual wall ultrastructural features in an ordered sequence of development. Results will contribute to our knowledge of fundamental aspects of morphological plasticity in phytoplankton and are expected to advance the fields of algal systematics and freshwater ecology. This project in botany fulfills the program objectives of advancing science by enabling leading experts in the U.S. and Slovakia to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
