Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Biological diversity is essential for healthy ecosystems and is a key component of a nation's wealth. To manage and conserve this resource it is imperative to understand biodiversity from the genetic to ecosystem level. Part of this task is the preparation of biological inventories, coupled with long term monitoring to assess change over time. Establishing inventories requires a system of classification in which to document diversity. Developing a natural (based on relationships) classification additionally provides a guide for those seeking to survey related species for economically useful compounds. My major research focus is the elucidation of algal relationships emphasizing two ecologically and economically important groups - red (primary) and brown (secondary) seaweeds. Molecular tools are powerful for deriving both contemporary floristic checklists and assessing relationships. They are more objective and, thus, more indicative of relatedness, than are anatomical expressions that may be influenced by convergent evolution or the environment in the form of plasticity. Specific objectives: To: 1) use molecular tools (DNA barcoding) to establish the first comprehensive list of red and brown algae for Canadian waters; 2) use molecular systematic tools to elucidate the evolutionary relationships within and among orders of these two major lineages with wide representation of the Canadian flora; 3) assess the evolution of red algal characteristics (e.g., vegetative and reproductive anatomy, life history pattern) in light of phylogenetic hypotheses; 4) establish natural classification systems based on these phylogenies; and, 5) maintain a long-term seasonal assessment of macroalgal biodiversity along the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick to document fluctuations in species richness and abundance. Novel expected findings: The results will provide an invaluable resource to systematists and conservationists as we attempt to appreciate algal diversity and relationships, and for industry in the search for novel products. Further, we will establish a long-term database for the region, which will better enable us to discern natural fluctuations from anthropogenic perturbations.