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Zooplankton community analysis in the Changjiang River estuary by single-gene-targeted metagenomics

  • Biology
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Abstract

DNA barcoding provides accurate identification of zooplankton species through all life stages. Single-gene-targeted metagenomic analysis based on DNA barcode databases can facilitate longterm monitoring of zooplankton communities. With the help of the available zooplankton databases, the zooplankton community of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary was studied using a single-gene-targeted metagenomic method to estimate the species richness of this community. A total of 856 mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences were determined. The environmental barcodes were clustered into 70 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs). Forty-two MOTUs matched barcoded marine organisms with more than 90% similarity and were assigned to either the species (similarity>96%) or genus level (similarity<96%). Sibling species could also be distinguished. Many species that were overlooked by morphological methods were identified by molecular methods, especially gelatinous zooplankton and merozooplankton that were likely sampled at different life history phases. Zooplankton community structures differed significantly among all of the samples. The MOTU spatial distributions were influenced by the ecological habits of the corresponding species. In conclusion, single-gene-targeted metagenomic analysis is a useful tool for zooplankton studies, with which specimens from all life history stages can be identified quickly and effectively with a comprehensive database.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Fangping Cheng  (程方平), Minxiao Wang  (王敏晓), Chaolun Li  (李超伦) & Song Sun  (孙松)

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Fangping Cheng  (程方平)

Authors
  1. Fangping Cheng  (程方平)
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  2. Minxiao Wang  (王敏晓)
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  3. Chaolun Li  (李超伦)
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  4. Song Sun  (孙松)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Song Sun  (孙松).

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41230963), the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2011CB403604), the “135” Fund of Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. 2012I0060102), the Innovative Research Group Funding of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41121064), and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA11020305)

CHENG Fangping and WANG Minxiao contributed equally to this work.

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Cheng, F., Wang, M., Li, C. et al. Zooplankton community analysis in the Changjiang River estuary by single-gene-targeted metagenomics. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 32, 858–870 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-014-3251-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-014-3251-y

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