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Title: Applying Clustering and Phylogeny Analysis to Study Dinoflagellates based on Sterol Composition.

Author
item LEBLOND, JEFFREY - MTSU, TENNESSEE
item LASITER, ANDREW - MTSU, TENNESSEE
item LI, CEN - MTSU, TENNESSEE
item LOGARES, RAMIRO - LUND UNIVERSITY
item RENGEFORS, KARIN - LUND UNIVERSITY
item Evens, Terence

Submitted to: International Bioinformatics and Biomedicine Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sterol compositions of dinoflagellates have been studied for several decades as a means of assessing whether certain species possess unique chemical biomarkers that are useful for tracking dinoflagellate community dynamics. However, no attempt has been made to compile the results from numerous studies to examine how sterol compositions may relate to the genetic phylogeny of this lineage. To this end, the sterol compositions of 102 dinoflagellates (including several previously unexamined species) were tabulated and compared to an extensive 18S rDNA-based phylogeny. Our results indicated that dinoflagellates form six clusters based on sterol compositions, and that several, but not all, dinoflagellate genera that form discrete clusters in the 18S rDNA-based phylogeny share similar sterol compositions. This and other correspondences suggest that the sterol compositions of dinoflagellates are explained, to a certain extent, by the evolutionary history of this lineage instead of environmental conditions.

Technical Abstract: Sterol compositions of dinoflagellates have been studied for several decades as a means of assessing whether certain species possess unique chemical biomarkers. However, no attempt has been made to compile the results from numerous studies to examine how sterol compositions may relate to the phylogeny of this lineage. To this end, the sterol compositions of 102 dinoflagellates (including several previously unexamined species) were tabulated and compared to an extensive 18S rDNA-based phylogeny. Our results indicated that dinoflagellates form six clusters based on sterol compositions, and that several, but not all, dinoflagellate genera that form discrete clusters in the 18S rDNA-based phylogeny share similar sterol compositions. This and other correspondences suggest that the sterol compositions of dinoflagellates are explained, to a certain extent, by the evolutionary history of this lineage instead of environmental conditions.