Systematics of Haptophyte Algae in Asia-Pacific Waters

Algae > Volume 12(4); 1997 > Article

Algae 1997;12(4): 247-261.

Isao Inouye

Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba

ABSTRACT

For better understanding of present status of investigations of haptophyte algae and problems which should be solved in future studies, brief descriptions of history of haptophyte studies and general features of haptophyte algae are presented. Systematics and phylogeny of haptophyte algae considered mainly based on ultrastructural and molecular data are also presented and discussed incorporating some unpublished data. Comparisons between the results obtained from these basically independent data sets allowed to evaluate some morphological features, and suggest several events which may have occurred in early stage of evolution of haptophyte algae, which will be focused in this paper. Finally, floristic records of haptophyte algae so far made in Japanese coastal waters are summarized and their characteristics, as compared with those of Europe and other part of the world, are discussed.

Key words: Asia-Pacific waters, haptophyte algae, phylogeny