Characterization of a Swedish new green algal species
This is a suggestion for a Degree Project for Bachelor's and Master's levels at the Department of Marine Sciences. Degree projects at the Department of Marine Sciences are done independently and must be written and assessed individually.
Subject: Marine biology
Level: Master students
Project start: Time flexible
Supervisor: Sophie Steinhagen
Project background
Green macroalgae of the genus Ulva are ubiquitous inhabitants of marine and brackish coastal waters. Several macroalgal species have recently increased, owing to opportunistic lifestyles and the capacity to benefit from eutrophication and other anthropogenic impacts. The ability to accurately identify such taxa has become much more important.
The identification of certain macroalgae, such as the genus Ulva, is notoriously difficult. Several Ulva species exhibit a strong morphological plasticity and cryptic species further complicate exact species identification by classical morphological characters only. By DNA barcoding we got first hints that there is probably at least one undescribed green algae species in Swedish waters.
Project description
In a project that will focus on both classical morphological (microscopy and macromorphological observations) and modern molecular species identification (DNA barcoding) you will investigate and describe this new entity. Furthermore, you will investigate the life-cycle of this entity by learning cultivation methods for macroalgae.
This project includes lab-work, as well as field collection of green algae.
Contact
Email: sophie.steinhagen@gu.se