This three-year, $317,027 project grant from the National Science Foundation's Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) will support collaborative research on the phylogenomics and taxonomic revision of the diatom order Rhopalodiales. The research team, consisting of scientists from three U.S. universities and seven international institutions, will gather genomic and morphological data to address the evolutionary origins and diversification of Rhopalodiales. They will seek to determine when the diatoms in this order acquired their cyanobacterial endosymbionts, identify their sister taxon, and examine host-symbiont co-evolution. The University of Montana will lead integration of phylogenetic, functional genomic, and taxonomic work to produce a time-calibrated phylogeny informing a revised classification. Over 40 students will engage through courses and research training. Findings will enhance understanding of symbiosis across the tree of life and its impacts on associated organisms and ecosystems.
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