Poster: Evolution

Abs # 782: Characterization of species within the green algal genus Dunaliella

Presenter:	Polle, Juergen E.W., JPOLLE@BROOKLYN.CUNY.EDU
Authors	Polle, Juergen E.W. (A)   Louis, Claudeline  (A)   Avery, Dionne  (A)   Jin, EonSeon  (B)
Affiliations:	(A): BROOKLYN COLLEGE of the CITY UNIVERSITY of NEW YORK, Department of Biology, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA (B): KORDI, Research Building 1st #1222, Sa-Dong 1270, Ansan Kyung-Gi Do, Korea 425-744

Currently, there are about 28 unicellular green algal species described that fall within the genus Dunaliella. 5 freshwater and 23 saltwater species are recognized for the genus Dunaliella . Until a few years ago, morphological and physiological characteristics have been the major criteria for species distinction. Cell morphology depends largely on environmental factors such as salinity and age of the cell culture. Because of great morphological variation even within one species, there has been confusion as to the correct classification of various described species and subspecies. Only recently has additional molecular analysis of the number of introns within the 18s rDNA gene as well as sequence analysis of the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 regions (ITS1 and ITS2) been used to classify species of the genus Dunaliella. We will present in a review the current status of sequence analysis to further delineate Dunaliella species and subspecies from each other.