Red algal systematics
Porphyra birdiae, a red alga
Taxonomy, systematics and genomics of red algae
The Botany Department is leading and involved in a number of systematic projects on red algae with particular emphasis on large and poorly known groups.
One such group is the Bangiales. Ecologically and economically important, it includes:
- Porphyra
- the Corallinales - calcified algae that is currently the focus of attention in relation to ocean acidification
We are using a combination of molecular, morphological and culture techniques for this work.
Current projects include:
- Global phylogeny of the Bangiales
- Porphyra genome project
- Taxonomy of the coralline algae
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Global phylogeny of the Bangiales
The Bangiales have a long evolutionary history and a worldwide distribution. Botany staff are collaborating internationally to construct a global phylogeny.
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Porphyra genome project
Museum staff are part of a scientific network that will develop work on the Porphyra genus once its genome has been decoded.
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Taxonomy of the coralline algae
Coralline algae are a key architectural component of the marine environment and yet are usually overlooked. We are focusing on the taxonomy of North Atlantic geniculate coralline algae.