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Diversity and distribution of unicellular opisthokonts along the E uropean coast analysed using high‐throughput sequencing
Author(s) -
del Campo Javier,
Mallo Diego,
Massana Ramon,
Vargas Colomban,
Richards Thomas A.,
RuizTrillo Iñaki
Publication year - 2015
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 - 10.1111/1462-2920.12759
Subject(s) - biology , throughput , diversity (politics) , distribution (mathematics) , computational biology , dna sequencing , evolutionary biology , genetics , gene , computer science , telecommunications , sociology , anthropology , mathematical analysis , mathematics , wireless
Summary The opisthokonts are one of the major super groups of eukaryotes. It comprises two major clades: (i) the M etazoa and their unicellular relatives and (ii) the F ungi and their unicellular relatives. There is, however, little knowledge of the role of opisthokont microbes in many natural environments, especially among non‐metazoan and non‐fungal opisthokonts. Here, we begin to address this gap by analysing high‐throughput 18 S rDNA and 18 S rRNA sequencing data from different European coastal sites, sampled at different size fractions and depths. In particular, we analyse the diversity and abundance of choanoflagellates, filastereans, ichthyosporeans, nucleariids, corallochytreans and their related lineages. Our results show the great diversity of choanoflagellates in coastal waters as well as a relevant representation of the ichthyosporeans and the uncultured marine opisthokonts ( MAOP ). Furthermore, we describe a new lineage of marine fonticulids ( MAFO ) that appears to be abundant in sediments. Taken together, our work points to a greater potential ecological role for unicellular opisthokonts than previously appreciated in marine environments, both in water column and sediments, and also provides evidence of novel opisthokont phylogenetic lineages. This study highlights the importance of high‐throughput sequencing approaches to unravel the diversity and distribution of both known and novel eukaryotic lineages.