A novel, combined approach to assessing species delimitation and biogeography within the well-known desmid species Micrasterias fimbriata and M. rotata (Desmidiales, Steptophyta).

Abstract

In this study , we analyzed a pair of well-known and widely distributed desmid species and tested for their phylogenetic and morphological homogeneity as well as their geographic distribution. M. rotata proved to be phylogenetically homogenous across Europe while M. fimbriata turned out to be composed of two firmly delimited lineages.

Keywords

• Microalgae distribution
• desmids
• molecular phylogenetics
• geometric morphometrics
• Micrasterias