Eukaryotic Taxonomy Working Group (ETWG)

The Eukaryotic Taxonomy Working Group (ETWG) has been founded in October 2011 to create a unified taxonomy for Eukaryotes based on 18S/28S ribosomal RNA gene sequences.

The goals of ETWG are:

 

  1. Identify reliable resources for eukaryotic taxonomic classification
  2. Create a consensus taxonomic hierarchy for eukaryotic organisms
  3. Implement this consensus hierarchy onto 18S and 28S sequences
  4. Promote dissemination and access to the classification and sequences

Members of the Working Group

  • Pelin Yilmaz, MPI-Bremen (Chair)
  • Frank Oliver Glöckner, MPI-Bremen
  • Laura Wegener Parfrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Colorado
  • Rob Knight, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Colorado
  • James R. Cole, Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University
  • Linda Amaral Zettler, Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
  • Susan M. Huse, Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
  • Alastair Simpson, Department of Biology Dalhousie University
  • Colomban de Vargas, Station biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, France

Timeline

We expect the first release fo the draft version of the Eukaryotic Taxonomy with SILVA release 110 in Spring 2012.

In this draft version, the taxonomy of Protists will be reconciled with the Opens external link in new window Adl et al. 2005 publication. 

Other groups will be updated as soon as suitable resources and classification schemes are identified.