COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OOSPORES OF CHARA BAUERI AND CHARA BRAUNII

In Figure 7, Chara baueri and Chara braunii are shown in relation to the measured oospore parameters. The analysis (F = 6.3, P = 0.002) described 27% variability in our data. Oospore parameters AND, LPA, ISI and number of ridges were positively correlated with Chara baueri, while LED and width of fossa showed positive correlation with Chara braunii, meaning that Chara baueri is characterized by longer, somewhat narrower, and more prolate oospores compared to those of C. braunii . Also in C. baueri the number of ridges was higher and they were more compactly arranged (narrower fossa). The correlation of ANI was almost nonexistent when both species were considered.

CLUSTER ANALYSES OF OOSPORE PARAMETERS

Cluster analysis results presented in Figure 8 confirm the potential of applying oospores and their features in species delineation by means of unsupervised machine learning.

The results of hierarchical clustering that was applied on the sample median values for all oospore parameters also confirmed the separation of samples into four separate clusters that matched individual taxa (Fig. 8).