Molecular Assessment of Green and Brown Algal Diversity of the Punta Burica Peninsula, Pacific Panama
Education Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor(s)
Professor Brian Wysor
Academic Department(s)
Biology, Marine Biology, & Environmental Science
Symposium Date
2024
Abstract
Punta Burica is a small peninsula off the Pacific coast of Panama that is characterized by an intriguing mudrock substratum. This substratum supports diverse populations of macroscopic algae by virtue of creating pools for them to inhabit and by retaining water within the substratum, which appears to minimize desiccation for attached algae. The Punta Burica region has been poorly studied phycologically, but the first study of the region revealed some 20 new records from just 45 specimens of red algae. Here, we extend our understanding of the Pacific Panama marine flora by using DNA barcoding to establish the species richness of brown and green algae of the Punta Burica peninsula.
Recommended Citation
Medina, Ariana and Wysor, Brian, "Molecular Assessment of Green and Brown Algal Diversity of the Punta Burica Peninsula, Pacific Panama" (2024). Student Research Symposium. 1.
https://docs.rwu.edu/studentresearchsymposium/1
Comments
This research was presented at the 2024 Rhode Island Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, held on Friday, July 26, at the University of Rhode Island and supported by RWU’s NSF RISE Scholars Program.