DIMMER, STEPHANIE K.*, MICHELLE DEAN, MARVIN W. FAWLEY, and KAREN P. FAWLEY. Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105. - Diversity of fusiform microchlorophyte algae from Itasca State Park, Minnesota.
Through the use of molecular techniques, several different types of
fusiform and twisted-fusiform microchlorophyte algae
(Monoraphidium, Ankistrodesmus, etc.) have been
characterized from samples taken from lakes and ponds of Itasca State
Park, Minnesota. PCR-RFLP analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA genes was used
to categorize 29 different isolates from the Itasca State Park lakes
into 9 different types. 18S ribosomal DNA sequences were determined
for one isolate from each type for phylogenetic analysis. Light
microscopy was used so that morphological characteristics as well as
molecular characteristics can be compared and contrasted. The
morphological characteristics were consistent for each PCR-RFLP type.
Further discussion will include comparisons of the distribution and
diversity of these organisms from Itasca State Park to those from
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota.
Key words: algal diversity, Ankistrodesmus, Chlorophyceae, Kirchneriella, Monoraphidium