Morgan L. Vis

The two primary research foci of this laboratory are systematics of freshwater red algae and algal communities in streams as bioindicators of water quality. In our studies of freshwater red algae, we employ a combination of field research and DNA sequencing (both Sanger and HTS) for systematic and phylogeographic research. At present, we are concentrating our efforts on revisionary systematics as well as HTS of organellar genomes to better understand evolutionary relationships. Our studies of stream algal biofilm communities have focused on the effectiveness of stream remediation. We collaborate with other researchers at Ohio University who study impacts of restoration on other aquatic life and hydrogeology of these streams in order to contribute to a more complete understanding of the ecosystem.

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Current and Recent Student Research Projects

• Systematics and Biogeography of Freshwater Red Algae
• Organellar Genomes of Freshwater Red Algae
• Structure and Function of Stream Biofilms for Understanding Stream Remediation
• Algae as Bioindicators

Professional Service

• Associate Editor, Journal of Phycology

Selected References

Tiwari, S. & Vis, M.L. 2024. Fine-tuning RNA extraction protocols for polysaccharide-rich freshwater red algae (Rhodophyta). Micropublication Biology 10.17912/micropub.biology.001180.

Necchi, O., Entwisle, T. J., Lopes, Y. M. S., & Vis, M. L. 2024. Reappraisal of the genus Visia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) and proposal for a new genus and species. Phycologia 63: 271–277. https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2024.2330108 

Crowell, R.C., Shainker-Connelly, S.J., Krueger-Hadfield, S.A. & Vis, M.L. 2024. Microsatellite development in the freshwater red alga Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta Cryptogamie, Algologie 45: 53-62. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2024v45a5.

Krueger-Hadfield, S.A., Shainker-Connelly, S.J., Crowell, R.C. & Vis, M.L. 2023. The eco-evolutionary importance of reproductive system variation in the macroalgae: Freshwater reds as a case study. Journal of Phycology 60:15-25. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13407

Vis, M.L. & Necchi, O. Jr. 2022. Freshwater Red Algae - Phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography. Springer Nature, ISBN-13: 978-3030839697.

Rossignolo, N.L., Vis, M.L., Paiano, M.O., Eloranta, P., West, J.A., Ganesan, E.K., Yasmin, F., Lim, P.-E., Necchi, O. Jr. 2021. Revision of the genus Sirodotia (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) with description of four new species. Crytogamie Algologie 42: 93-127. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-algologie2021v42a8

Chapuis, I.S., Vis, M.L., Necchi, O. Jr., Sánchez Castillo, P.M., Aboal, M. & Zuccarello, G.C. 2021. Diversity of Batrachospermales (Rhodophyta) in the Iberian Peninsula. Fottea 21:73-81. DOI: 10.5507/fot.2020.018

Vis, M.L., Tiwari, S., Evans, J.R., Stancheva, R., Sheath, R.G., Lee, J. & Eloranta, P. 2020. Revealing hidden diversity in the Sheathia arcuata morphospecies (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) including four new species. Algae 35: 1-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2020.35.8.31

Vis, M.L., Lee, J., Eloranta, P., Chapuis, I.S., Lam, D.W. & Necchi, O. Jr. 2020. Paludicola gen. nov. and revision of the species formerly in Batrachospermum section Turfosa (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta). Journal of Phycology 56: 844-861. DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jpy.13001

Szinte, A.L., Taylor, J.C., Abosede, A.T. & Vis, M.L. 2020. Current status of the freshwater red algal diversity (Rhodophyta) of the African continent including description of new taxa (Batrachospermales). Phycologia 59: 187-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2020.1732149

Evans, J.R. & Vis, M.L. 2020. Relative expression analysis of light-harvesting genes in the freshwater red alga Lympha mucosa (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta). Journal of Phycology 52: 540-548. DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpy.12967

Wolf, D.I. & Vis, M.L. 2019. Stream algal biofilm community diversity along an acid mine drainage recovery gradient using multi-marker metabarcoding. Journal of Phycology 56: 11-22. DOI: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jpy.12935

Necchi, O. Jr., Garcia, A.S. Fo., Paiano, M.O. & Vis, M.L. 2019. Revision of Batrachospermum section Macrospora (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) with the establishment of the new genus Montagnia. Phycologia 58: 582-591. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2019.1624143

Redmond, A.M., Hollingsworth, E.K. & Vis, M.L. 2019. Survey of freshwater red algae from the Batrachospermales (Rhodophyta) in South Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 18: 451-468. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1656/058.018.0311

Evans, J.R., St. Amour, N., Verbruggen, H., Salomaki, E.D., & Vis, M.L. 2019. Chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Balbiania investiens (Balbianiales, Nemaliophycidae). Phycologia 58: 310-318. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00318884.2019.1573349