Temporal changes in the distribution of benthic diatoms in the tidal flat of Guenso Bay using a DNA metabarcording approach

Abstract

Benthic diatoms are ubiquitous in tidal flat and play major roles in maintaining coastal ecosystem functions. To investigate the temporal changes in the distribution of benthic diatoms, 80 samples obtained at Geunso bay in west coast of Korea from May 2009 to May 2015 were sequenced using the Miseq platform. New diatoms specific rbcL primers were designed and used in genetic diversity monitoring study. We obtained 1,362,742 reads of rbcL (431 bp) from 80 benthic meta samples of the Gunsoman, 2009-2015. Overall, Navicula was the most abundant genus, followed by Amphora, Nitzschia, Sellaphora etc. Major benthic diatoms were always occurred all the year round, however, they showed different peak season. Our results indicate that metabarcoding of the rbcL gene by NGS sequencing may has a great potentialin analyzing the diversity of diatoms.orea from May 2009 to May 2015 were sequenced using the Miseq platform. New diatoms specific rbcL primers were designed and used in genetic diversity monitoring study. We obtained 1,362,742 reads of rbcL (431 bp) from 80 benthic meta samples of the Gunsoman, 2009-2015. Overall, Navicula was the most abundant genus, followed by Amphora, Nitzschia, Sellaphora etc. Major benthic diatoms were always occurred all the year round, however, they showed different peak season. Our results indicate that metabarcoding of the rbcL gene by NGS sequencing may has a great potentialin analyzing the diversity of diatoms.