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FEATURES FOR CLASSIFYING PHOTOSYNTHETIC AEROBIC NANOPLANKTON BY NUMERICAL TAXONOMY
Author(s) -
Van Valkenburg Shirley D.,
Karlander Edward P.,
Patterson Glenn W.,
Colwell Rita R.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.1002/j.1996-8175.1977.tb03827.x
Subject(s) - numerical taxonomy , taxonomy (biology) , dendrogram , identification (biology) , similarity (geometry) , biology , computer science , biological classification , ultrastructure , pattern recognition (psychology) , artificial intelligence , botany , evolutionary biology , population , demography , sociology , genetic diversity , image (mathematics)
Summary A list of features for preparing a numerical taxonomy of the nanoplankton is presented and includes 387 morphological, ultrastructural, physiological, and biochemical characters. The characters are to be recorded and the taxonomic data are to be analyzed by computer to determine: (i) degree of over‐all similarity among the strains, based on the 387 characters; (ii) minimum number and particular characters suitable for construction of an identification key; and (iii) minimum set of characters providing as robust a classification as that developed using all the characters. The approach taken in this study can provide the basis for on‐line computer identification of the photosynthetic, aerobic nanoplankton. Results of an analysis of 10 species of Haptophyceae and Chrysophyceae, using morphological and ultrastructural data, demonstrate the practicality of this proposed system. Dendrograms prepared by computer are presented and comparison of the results obtained by computer analysis with classical taxonomic treatment shows good agreement.