Authors

Allyn Duvin S. Pantallano

Author

Mark Anthony J. Torres

Co-author

Mindanao State University at Naawan, 9023 Naawan, Misamis Oriental
Biology Department, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Shape variation of semicells of Micrasterias and marginal cells of Pediastrum, both freshwater algae, was evaluated using geometric morphometrics to assess the relationship among individual taxa of each genus. A superimposition method using Procrustes fitting was employed to decompose the form of the cells from its non-shape variation components. Relative Warp Analysis (RWA) to depict variation in shape and cluster analysis to reveal groupings of individual species within both genera were used. Morphological trends revealed by RWA and cluster analysis describing variation among Micrasterias species include a) width of the polar lobes, b) depth of incision between individual lateral lobes, and c) depth of incision between polar and lateral lobes. For Pediastrum these include a) presence and absence of V-incision, and b) the width of this incision between marginal cell lobes. In this study, the morphological pattern that described variation among individual taxa of Micrasterias and Pediastrum could be used as bases for classifying group of species under both genera.