We have sequenced the the ssu and lsu rDNA sequences of the wild material - it is deposited in the NCBI genbank (accession no's FM955256 and FM955257) and a phylogenetic analysis has been done (Klaveness et al. 2011). Now, since we had success in cultivating Hydrurus under laboratory conditions (Klaveness & Lindstrøm 2011), we plan to study the structure of the peculiar polysaccharide protecting the alga from disruption in the strong currents where it prefers to live, its tolerance to specific compounds in rivers in Norway, and its evolutionary aquired morphological plasticity or possible species diversity. The latter are to be discussed in relation to genetic information from many more locations.
If you are looking for an interesting master's thesis, contact the project leader.
Litterature on the river from lake Finsevatn:
Klaveness, D.,Bråte, J., Patil, V., Shalchian-Tabrizi, K., Kluge, R., Gislerød, H:R. & Jakobsen, K.S. 2011. The 18S and 28S rDNA identity and phylogeny of the common lotic chrysophyte Hydrurus foetidus. European Journal of Phycology 46 (3), 282-291.
Klaveness, D. & Lindstrøm, E-A. 2011. Hydrurus foetidus (Chromista, Chrysophyceae): A large freshwater chromophyte alga in laboratory culture. Phycological Research 59, 105-112.
Strøm, K.M. 1926. Norwegian mountain algae. An account of the biology, ecology and distribution of the algae and pelagic invertebrates in the region surrounding the mountain crossing of the Bergen railway. – Skrifter, Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi i Oslo I. Mat.-Naturv. Klasse. 1926. No. 6. 263 p + Pl. I-XXV