Diversity and dispersal capacities of a terrestrial algal genus Klebsormidium (Streptophyta) in polar regions

• Published in: FEMS Microbiology Ecology
• Main Authors: Ryšánek, D., Elster, J. (Josef), Kováčik, L., Škaloud, P.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: genetic diversity; Klebsormidium; phylogeography; polar regions; Antarctic; Arctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiw039; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0265089

The distribution of microbial eukaryotes (protists) has been frequently discussed during the last two decades. The ubiquity hypothesis assumes the lack of latitudinal gradients in protist diversity due to their unlimited global dispersal. In this study, we examined the diversity and distribution of the very common, globally distributed green algal genus Klebsormidium across climatic zones, focusing on the polar regions. We tested whether (i) there is comparable diversity among the polar and temperate regions, and (ii) whether a spatial genetic differentiation occurs at the global scale. We collected a total of 58 Arctic, Antarctic and temperate strains, and genetically characterized them by sequencing the rbcL gene and two highly variable chloroplast markers.