ARS | Publication request: YEAST SYSTEMATICS AND PHYLOGENY - IMPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION METHODS FOR STUDIES IN ECOLOGY

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book/Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: June 9, 2005
Publication Date: November 28, 2005
Citation: Kurtzman, C.P., Fell, J.W. 2006. Yeast systematics and phylogeny - implications of molecular identification methods for studies in ecology. In: Rosa, C.A. and Peter, G., editors. The Yeast Handbook. Germany:Springer-Verlag Berlin Herdelberg. p. 11-30.

Technical Abstract: Yeasts are prevalent members of the fungal ecosystem and at present there are ~1,500 recognized species, which are distributed between the ascomycetes and the basidiomycetes. Accurate identification of species is essential for understanding interactions in the ecosystem. Traditional identification methods, which are based on phenotype, are often inaccurate leading to uncertain interpretations of species interactions. Additionally, perhaps only 1% of all living species are described; so much of present yeast biodiversity and ecology is unknown. In this chapter, we discuss the application of molecular methods for species identification, detection of new species and the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships.