A six-gene phylogeny provides new insights into choanoflagellate evolution

Recent studies have shown that molecular phylogenies of the choanoflagellates (Class Choanoflagellatea)
are in disagreement with their traditional taxonomy, based on morphology, and that Choanoflagellatea
requires considerable taxonomic revision. Furthermore, phylogenies suggest that the morphological
and ecological evolution of the group is more complex than has previously been recognized. Here we
address the taxonomy of the major choanoflagellate order Craspedida, by erecting four new genera.
The new genera are shown to be morphologically, ecologically and phylogenetically distinct from other
choanoflagellate taxa. Furthermore, we name five novel craspedid species, as well as formally describe
ten species that have been shown to be either misidentified or require taxonomic revision. Our revised
phylogeny, including 18 new species and sequence data for two additional genes, provides insights into
the morphological and ecological evolution of the choanoflagellates. We examine the distribution within
choanoflagellates of these two additional genes, EF-1A and EFL, closely related translation GTPases which
are required for protein synthesis. Mapping the presence and absence