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Seasonal diversity and dynamics of haptophytes in the Skagerrak, Norway, explored by high-throughput sequencing
Egge, E.S.; Johannessen, T.V.; Andersen, T.; Eikrem, W.; Bittner, L.; Larsen, A.; Sandaa, R.-A.; Edvardsen, B. (2015). Seasonal diversity and dynamics of haptophytes in the Skagerrak, Norway, explored by high-throughput sequencing. Mol. Ecol. 24(12): 3026-3042. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.13160
In: Molecular Ecology. Blackwell: Oxford. ISSN 0962-1083; e-ISSN 1365-294X, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Environmental Managers & Monitoring
    Marine Sciences
    Marine Sciences > Marine Genomics
    Marine Sciences > Oceanography
    Scientific Community
    Scientific Publication
    Software/Modelling Tool
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    diversity; Haptophyta; high-throughput sequencing; multivariateanalysis; phytoplankton; seasonality

Project Top | Authors 
  • Association of European marine biological laboratories, more

Authors  Top 
  • Egge, E.S.
  • Johannessen, T.V.
  • Andersen, T.
  • Eikrem, W.
  • Bittner, L.
  • Larsen, A.
  • Sandaa, R.-A.
  • Edvardsen, B.

Abstract
    Microalgae in the division Haptophyta play key roles in the marine ecosystem and in global biogeochemical processes. Despite their ecological importance, knowledge on seasonal dynamics, community composition and abundance at the species level is limited due to their small cell size and few morphological features visible under the light microscope. Here, we present unique data on haptophyte seasonal diversity and dynamics from two annual cycles, with the taxonomic resolution and sampling depth obtained with high-throughput sequencing. From outer Oslofjorden, S Norway, nano- and picoplanktonic samples were collected monthly for 2 years, and the haptophytes targeted by amplification of RNA/cDNA with Haptophyta-specific 18S rDNA V4 primers. We obtained 156 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from c. 400.000 454 pyrosequencing reads, after rigorous bioinformatic filtering and clustering at 99.5%. Most OTUs represented uncultured and/or not yet 18S rDNA-sequenced species. Haptophyte OTU richness and community composition exhibited high temporal variation and significant yearly periodicity. Richness was highest in September–October (autumn) and lowest in April–May (spring). Some taxa were detected all year, such as Chrysochromulina simplex, Emiliania huxleyi and Phaeocystis cordata, whereas most calcifying coccolithophores only appeared from summer to early winter. We also revealed the seasonal dynamics of OTUs representing putative novel classes (clades HAP-3–5) or orders (clades D, E, F). Season, light and temperature accounted for 29% of the variation in OTU composition. Residual variation may be related to biotic factors, such as competition and viral infection. This study provides new, in-depth knowledge on seasonal diversity and dynamics of haptophytes in North Atlantic coastal waters.

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