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Molecular diversity and species concept of subaerial green alga Trentepohlia (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta)
Šafránková, Michala ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Štifterová, Anna (referee)
This Bachelor thesis discusses green subaerial algae of the genus Trentepohlia (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta). Firstly, I focus on general description of the family Trentepohliaceae and the genus Trentepohlia, especially on morphology, ultrastructure and reproduction. Secondly, I summarize the knowledge of the literature available about the species of the genus Trentepohlia living in the Czech Republic. I also concern with the symbiotic relationship of these algae with other organisms and with some curiosities of their growth leading to ecological and other important consequences. Finally, in this thesis I introduce the issues of the species delimitation using traditional morphological methods in contrast to molecular approaches. There are several facts resulting from this thesis. The genus Trentepohlia is a green alga of the Chlorophyta lineage curious in some aspects, mostly due to presence of some structures among the cells (such as plasmodesmatas, MLS, carotenoids, etc.). There is also a problem of determination of individual species. For almost two hundred years, this problem has been solved by use of morphological features. However, molecular methods are often in contrast to these traditional methods. Therefore, reorganization on a genus level is essential, based on the discovery of...
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Cryptic and pseudocryptic diversity of conjugating green algae (Zygnematophyceae)
Kupčíková, Eva ; Šťastný, Jan (advisor) ; Škaloud, Pavel (referee)
This bachelor thesis summarizes the most commonly used species concepts in the class Zygnematophyceae. This group of algae and the molecular markers used in the zygnematophytes' molecular phylogeny will be presented in this thesis. Zygnematophytes have unicellular or multicellular forms and they generally occur in freshwater habitats. Desmids are useful as indicators of water quality and they are also used for scoring of conservation value. Therefore it is important to have the species well defined. The confusion in defining of desmid species was caused by often very variable morphology. Some authors had different opinions on the classifying of desmid species and theirs subunits. The combination of molecular phylogeny, electron microscopy and geometric morphometrics was used in revealing of (pseudo)cryptic species in the genera Micrasterias or Xanthidium. The geometic morphometrics was helpful for finding of important details for distinguishing of particular pseudocryptic species. Key words: cryptic and pseudocryptic diversity, conjugation, desmids, Micrasterias, Euastrum, Xanthidium, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, geometric morphometrics, biogeography, green algae
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The significance of silica structures in chromist microorganisms.
Nováková, Dora ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Němcová, Yvonne (referee)
The silica is one of the most common elements in the Earth's crust. During erosion it is released in soluble form to the environment, where some organisms can accumulate the silica and incorporate it to their bodies by biosilicification process. The organsims possessing this ability are widespread either when considering their position in eukaryotic tree of life, or their abundance in natural ecosystems. As a result, the whole global biogeochemical cycle of silica is controlled by biosilicificated organisms. In Chromista microorganisms, the silica is loaded to so-called "silica deposition vesicles" - membrane surrounded compartments, in which the silica is polymerated and formed into the final shape of silica structures during an ingeniously controlled in vivo process. Apparent differences in the process of silica deposition among Chromista microorganisms imply that this ability has developed independenty and repeatedly within the group. The most common silica structures are scales, bristles, cases, skeletons and cysts. The analogical structures often originated independently in unrelated lines of Chromista by means of convergent evolution. On the contrary, in some lineages of Chromista, the ability of biosilicification was suppressed. It is therefore very likely that the silica structures should...
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Morphological and molecular characterization of anaerobic members of the genus Andalucia (Excavata: Jakobida)
Táborský, Petr ; Čepička, Ivan (advisor) ; Škaloud, Pavel (referee)
Eukaryotic organisms are divided into about 30 groups today, yet there still reamain many groups whose classification in the eukaryotic tree we are not sure about. This study focused on jacobids, a evolutionary important protist group from the Excavata taxa. Together with Heterolobosea, Euglenozoa and Tsukubamonadida, jacobids constitue a Discoba subgroup of Excavata taxa. Jacobids are significant mainly for their mitochondrial genome, which structurally resembles the original α-proteobacterial genome of the free-living ancestor of mitochondria. Some jacobids have their mitochondrial genome simplified, making them potential candidates for a model group used to study the mitochondrial evolution. However, too few members of jacobid group have been identified so far and the exact phylogeny of the group must be thoroughly understood for the detailed study of mitochondria evolution. This study focuses on broadening the taxonomic coverage of the jacobid excavate protists Andalucia. Twenty new strains of Andalucia have been established into stable culture, their morphology was assessed and SSU rDNA sequenced. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, Andalucia incarcarata species divides into three morphologically almost indistinguishable lines representing three species. Further, this study characterized a...
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Sexual incompatibility of protist cryptic species
Jelínková, Lucie ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Urbánková, Pavla (referee)
The systematic and the evolutionary biology attempt to define a species category or a species taxon from the beginning of their existence. Specific taxons are considered species on the base of different criteria, so on the base of different species concepts. Most of these concepts emerged previous century. The biological species concept has been assumed to be most important species concept for dozens of times. It was based on a presence of the reproduction isolation of two species. However, its applicability was questioned by the existence of many asexual lineages and also the lineages with a large degree of hybridization between an approved species. This thesis is trying to give a description of the biological species concept and its changes during the time. And it is also trying to answer the question of its simultaneous usability for protist.
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Biogeography, diversity and substrate specificity of aeroterrestrial green algal genus Klebsormidium (Streptophyta)
Ryšánek, David ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Mareš, Jan (referee)
Filamentous aeroterestrial green algae genus Klebsormidium occurs in a very wide range of freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Recent results of molecular investigations led to the finding that the diversity within this genus is far greater than expected on the basis of the morphological features, and that the traditional phenotypic species concept is insufficient. I tried to differentiate phylogenetic lineages within the genus Klebsormidium by thein different biogeographical distribution and environmental preferences. Since no study dealing with the biogeographic pattern of aeroterrestrial algae was so far undertaken, another aim of this work was to test validity of the protist ubiquity model in aeroterrestrial habitats. I studied this issues based on the chloroplast rbcL molecular marker. Based on the obtained data I found that the geographic definition of particular Klebsormidium lineages turns out to be unusable because of the cosmopolitan occurrence of almost all genotypes. However, the data obtained from the substrate specificity study shows that clear ecological preferences exist within the genus Klebsormidium and could be simply used to define different lineages within the genus.
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The phylogenetic structure of desmid communities
Bestová, Helena ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Mareš, Jan (referee)
Abstract This diploma thesis focuses on processes that structure desmid communities. Phylogenetic structure of communities helps to reveal those processes. Phylogenetic structures links ecology of communities and evolutionary history of species in those communities. Totally I analysed 89 desmid communities. Most of them were phylogenetically structured, which agrees with the hypothesis that communities are structured by classical niche-related processes, such as competition and environmental filtering. Usage of environmental information showed the influence of pH on the community structure. Low pH acts as a strong environmental filter. Under the influence of this filter communities are composed of closely relates species. In the absence of this filter communities are structured by competition. Localities with higher pH host communities of distantly related species - phylogenetically overdispersed. There was found no influence of conductivity and geographical distance on phylogenetic structure of desmids communities. Key words: phylogenetic structure, desmids, Desmidiales, environmental filtering, pH
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Biogeography and specificity of Asterochloris photobionts
Řídká, Tereza ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Vondrák, Jan (referee)
This diploma thesis has focused on the diversity and biogeography of Asterochloris photobionts. Since no study so far has been published on the biogeography of symbiotic microorganisms, the presented thesis is the first attemp to trace the biogeographic distribution and endemism of symbionts. By gathering 121 Asterochloris sequences obtained from lichen thalli sampled outside Europe and America, the diversity within the genus increased dramatically. The phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated alignment of ITS rDNA and actin sequences obtained from Cladonia and Stereocaulon photobionts revealed 28 differently supported clades. Of them, eight lineages were newly discovered. Three environmental factors explaining the best the distribution pattern of Asterochloris photobionts were selected according to the statistical tests of the phylogenetic signal: two different types of biogeographical ecoregions and the substrate type. In general, the genus Asterochloris is distributed cosmopolitally, with a very low rate of endemism. Newly obtained data indicate that the restricted distribution of any photobiont clade is not caused by either historic or biological factors, but more likely by specific climatic or habitat preferences.
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Photobiont diversity in the lichen genus Stereocaulon (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota)
Vančurová, Lucie ; Škaloud, Pavel (advisor) ; Peksa, Ondřej (referee)
This thesis is focused on the diversity of lichen photobionts and its relation to the mycobionts and environmental factors. The key objective is to map the diversity of lichen photobionts of the genus Stereocaulon, which has been insufficiently examined in comparison with related lichens Cladonia and Lepraria. In total, 92 samples belonging to 12 species of genus Stereocaulon were examined, being found in four continents, at the altitude of 50 to 2 900 metres a. s. l., and variety of natural and artificial substrata. Phylogenetic analyses were inferred on the basis of ITS rDNA, actin type I, 18S rDNA and rbcL sequences. Photobionts belonging to two unrelated genera within Trebouxiophyceae, Asterochloris and Chloroidium, were found in thalli of Stereocaulon lichens. While Asterochloris represents one of the most frequent photobionts of various lichens, Chloroidium has been until now recorded as a lichen photobiont very rarely. The content of heavy metals in substratum can be considered as a determinative factor for its occurrence. A new lineage affiliated to genus Asterochloris was discovered on the island La Palma (the Canary Islands). Interestingly, none of common, widespread Asterochloris lineages has been found in this locality. The lichen photobionts of the genus Stereocaulon were discovered in 12 of...
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