Can’t find “your alga”?
At CCALA, we do our best to keep the species names in our strain collection up to date with the latest scientific findings. Taxonomy is a living and continuously developing field, and algae are no exception. As new molecular, morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic data become available, scientists may revise how organisms are classified and named.
As a result, a species listed in our collection may sometimes appear under a different name than the one you are familiar with. This does not necessarily mean that the species has disappeared from CCALA. In many cases, it may have been renamed, transferred to another genus, merged with another taxon, or updated according to recent taxonomic research.
Why species names change
Scientific names change when new evidence improves our understanding of the relationships between organisms. In algae, this happens relatively often, especially as DNA-based methods reveal relationships that were not visible from morphology alone.
A taxonomic update may involve:
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transfer of a species to a different genus,
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replacement of an older name with a currently accepted one,
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recognition of a former name as a synonym,
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correction of spelling, authorship, or classification,
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revision of the boundaries of a species or group.
These changes help keep scientific naming consistent with current knowledge, even though they can sometimes make it more difficult to find a familiar organism under its older name.
How to check the current accepted name
If you cannot find a species in our catalogue under the name you know, we recommend checking AlgaeBase, a widely used international database for algal taxonomy. AlgaeBase can help you trace older names, synonyms, and currently accepted names, as well as updated taxonomic placements.
When searching, it may be useful to check whether:
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the species has been moved to a different genus,
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the name is now treated as a synonym,
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the spelling or authorship has changed,
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the organism is listed under a more recent accepted name.
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Need help finding a strain?
If you are unsure whether a particular species is present in our collection, or if you need help tracing a strain after a taxonomic update, please contact our curator - Josef Juráň, Josef.Juran@ibot.cas.cz. We will be happy to help you determine whether the organism is available under a new name, an older synonym, or a related taxon.
Our aim is to make the information in the CCALA catalogue as accurate, current, and easy to navigate as possible.
Thank you for understanding that changes in scientific names reflect the ongoing development of taxonomic research and are a natural part of working with biological collections.