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Cob gene pyrosequencing enables characterization of benthic dinoflagellate diversity and biogeography
Author(s) -
Kohli Gurjeet S.,
Neilan Brett A.,
Brown Mark V.,
Hoppenrath Mona,
Murray Shauna A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12275
Subject(s) - dinoflagellate , biology , pyrosequencing , polychaete , benthic zone , ribosomal rna , species richness , ecology , gene , biogeography , evolutionary biology , zoology , genetics
Summary Dinoflagellates in marine benthic habitats living epiphytically on macroalgae are an important but highly understudied group of protists. Many produce toxins that can have severe economic impacts on marine‐based economies, and improved monitoring tools are required to enhance the management of toxin‐related hazards. We analysed the distribution and diversity of epibenthic dinoflagellates inhabiting eight sites in C ocos ( K eeling) I slands, P apua N ew G uinea, and Broome and Exmouth, Western A ustralia. We used pyrosequencing approaches based on two DNA barcoding marker genes – 18 S ribosomal RNA ( rRNA ) and mitochondrial cytochrome b ( cob ) – and compared these to an approach based on clone libraries (197 sequences) using the cob gene. Dinoflagellate sequences accounted for 133 [64 unique operational taxonomic units ( OTU )] out of 10 529 18S rRNA gene sequences obtained from all samples. However, using the dinoflagellate specific assay targeting the cob gene marker, we obtained 9748 (1217 unique OTU ) dinoflagellate sequences from the same environmental samples, providing the largest, to date, set of dinoflagellate cob gene sequences and reliable estimates of total dinoflagellate richness within the samples and biogeographic comparisons between samples. This study also reports the presence of potentially toxic species of the genera Gambierdiscus , Ostreopsis , Coolia , Prorocentrum and Amphidinium from the above‐mentioned geographical regions.