Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Biological diversity is essential for healthy ecosystems and is a key component of a nation's wealth. To manage this resource, it is imperative to understand biodiversity from the genetic to the ecosystem level. Part of this task is the preparation of biological inventories, coupled with an understanding of distribution and ecology. Establishing inventories requires a system of classification with which to document diversity, which, when based on relationships, additionally provides a guide for those seeking to survey species for economically-useful compounds (related species have related compounds). My major focus is on the three ecologically and economically-important groups of macroalgae - red, brown and green seaweed. We emphasize molecular tools to establish our relationship-based inventories. These tools are more objective than anatomical expressions that may be influenced by convergent evolution or the environment in the form of plasticity. Specific objectives include: 1) use molecular tools to establish the first comprehensive list of Canadian marine macroalgae, include that diversity in user-friendly identification guides and an online resource to assist layperson identifications; 2) as part of the previous we will develop metabarcoding tools to study species diversity and distribution along Canada's three coasts. We will for the first time comprehensively explore the richness and distribution of microscopic species, which typically live as endo/epiphytes. Notably, many species have two stages (one obvious, the other cryptic and often microscopic), but for most of these our understanding of diversity, ecology and distribution is limited to the obvious stage; and 3) use contemporary molecular tools to elucidate the relationships within these lineages with the aim of including wide representation of the Canadian flora in an evolutionary context. We will utilize these global phylogenetic hypotheses to establish natural classifications and to assess character evolution (e.g., vegetative and reproductive anatomy, life history). Novel expected findings: Our preliminary data indicate: there are a significant number of species in the Canadian flora yet to be named and placed in a taxonomic context; and our understanding of the distribution for many species is inaccurate. Understanding the diversity and origins of these floras is critical to forecasting and assessing future changes owing to anthropogenic pressures. Addressing these knowledge gaps will provide an invaluable resource for systematists and conservationists as we work to appreciate macroalgal diversity and relationships, monitor introduced species, explore changes in seaweed floras owing to climate change, and for industry in the search for novel products. Further, we will establish an understanding of past and contemporary distributions of both life stages for species with both macro and micro stages to facilitate a better understanding of these species' biology.