The molecular phylogenetic and geometric morphometric evaluation of Micrasterias crux-melitensis / M. radians species complex

Abstract

We investigated nine strains of the Micrasterias crux-melitensis (Ehrenb.) Hassall ex Ralfs and M. radians W. B.

Turner species complex. A combination of molecular, morphological, and geometric morphometric data was used to reveal the patterns of their phenotypic and phylogenetic differentiation.

We cannot preclude that geographic isolation may play a role in species differentiation of relatively large freshwater protists, such as Micrasterias.

Keywords

• molecular phylogenetics
• geometric morphometrics
• Micrasterias
• Desmidiales