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On the expression of phenotypic variability: why is Sargassum so taxonomically difficult?
| Title: | On the expression of phenotypic variability: why is Sargassum so taxonomically difficult?. |
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| Name(s): |
Kilar, J. A. Yoshida, T. Hanisak, M. Dennis |
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| Type of Resource: | text | |
| Genre: | Article | |
| Date Issued: | 1992 | |
| Publisher: | California Sea Grant College | |
| Place of Publication: | La Jolla, CA | |
| Physical Form: | ||
| Extent: | 25 p. | |
| Language(s): | English | |
| Identifier: | FA00007252 (IID) | |
| Note(s): |
Anatomical and physiological variation is inherent in all living organisms, originating at both thegenotypic and the phenotypic levels. In the morphologically complex phaeophyte Sargassum,characters exhibit variability on several scales: (1) temporal, (2) intraindividual, (3) interindividual, (4)environmental, and (5) interlocality (geographical). Taxonomic inconsistencies result from haphazardmeasurements of variation and from species descriptions that describe only part of the plant'sanatomical range. Prominent features, such as blade shape and size, are used almost exclusively todistinguish taxa but are highly variable. Polymorphs increase between-plant variation and, in somecases, make species descriptions inadequate. The search for stable characters or suites ofcharacters is further complicated by developmental cycles, low-occurrence traits, environmentalvariates (polymorphisms and polyphenisms), and genetic differences among populations. Variationat the phenotypic and genotypic levels must be understood before an acceptable species conceptcan be developed. Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 813 This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available and may be cited as: Kilar, J. A., Hanisak, M. D., & Yoshida, T. (1992). On the expression of phenotypic variability: why is Sargassum so taxonomically difficult? In I. A. Abbott (Ed.), Taxonomy of economic seaweeds: with reference to some Pacific and Western Atlantic species. Volume III (pp. 95-117). La Jolla, CA: California Sea Grant College. |
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| Subject(s): |
Sargassum Marine algae--Classification Phenotype Genotype |
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| Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007252 | |
| Host Institution: | FAU |
