Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary
Zooplankton are key components of estuarine trophic networks. However, routine monitoring is hindered by the difficulty of morphology-based identification. DNA-based methods allow us to circumvent some of these hurdles, providing precise species identifications regardless of the taxonomic expertise...
| Principais autores: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | English |
| Publicado em: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| coleção: | Animals |
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| Acesso em linha: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/24/3876 |
| _version_ | 1827575928128012288 |
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| author | Jorge Moutinho Diego Carreira-Flores Pedro T. Gomes Filipe O. Costa Sofia Duarte |
| author_facet | Jorge Moutinho Diego Carreira-Flores Pedro T. Gomes Filipe O. Costa Sofia Duarte |
| author_sort | Jorge Moutinho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zooplankton are key components of estuarine trophic networks. However, routine monitoring is hindered by the difficulty of morphology-based identification. DNA-based methods allow us to circumvent some of these hurdles, providing precise species identifications regardless of the taxonomic expertise of the investigator or the developmental stage of the specimens. However, the process is dependent on the completeness of the reference libraries. In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential of DNA metabarcoding to assess the seasonal (summer, autumn, and early spring) and spatial dynamics of zooplankton (four locations spanning ca. 6 km) in the Lima estuary (NW Portugal). Two genetic markers were used: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the V4 hypervariable region of the ribosomal 18S rRNA genes. Overall, 327 species were recovered, and both markers displayed minute overlap (7% were detected with both markers). Species richness, composition, and taxonomic distinctness were majorly influenced by the season, with a declining tendency from summer (highest number of exclusive species, n = 74) to spring. Second to season, the taxa composition was influenced by spatial variation where the most downstream site displayed the highest number of exclusive species, n = 53. A total of 16 non-indigenous species were detected using metabarcoding, but only one (<i>Austrominus modestus</i>) has been documented out in the estuary. In conclusion, both the seasonal and spatial gradients influenced the recovered richness, composition, and taxonomic distinctness, confirming the great aptitude of DNA metabarcoding for providing higher density monitoring and shedding new light on the composition and dynamics of complex zooplankton communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:03:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9f8560621d94b3ca8c888f175b8c374 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:03:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9f8560621d94b3ca8c888f175b8c3742023-12-22T13:47:42ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-12-011324387610.3390/ani13243876Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate EstuaryJorge Moutinho0Diego Carreira-Flores1Pedro T. Gomes2Filipe O. Costa3Sofia Duarte4Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCentre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCentre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCentre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalCentre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET—Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalZooplankton are key components of estuarine trophic networks. However, routine monitoring is hindered by the difficulty of morphology-based identification. DNA-based methods allow us to circumvent some of these hurdles, providing precise species identifications regardless of the taxonomic expertise of the investigator or the developmental stage of the specimens. However, the process is dependent on the completeness of the reference libraries. In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential of DNA metabarcoding to assess the seasonal (summer, autumn, and early spring) and spatial dynamics of zooplankton (four locations spanning ca. 6 km) in the Lima estuary (NW Portugal). Two genetic markers were used: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the V4 hypervariable region of the ribosomal 18S rRNA genes. Overall, 327 species were recovered, and both markers displayed minute overlap (7% were detected with both markers). Species richness, composition, and taxonomic distinctness were majorly influenced by the season, with a declining tendency from summer (highest number of exclusive species, n = 74) to spring. Second to season, the taxa composition was influenced by spatial variation where the most downstream site displayed the highest number of exclusive species, n = 53. A total of 16 non-indigenous species were detected using metabarcoding, but only one (<i>Austrominus modestus</i>) has been documented out in the estuary. In conclusion, both the seasonal and spatial gradients influenced the recovered richness, composition, and taxonomic distinctness, confirming the great aptitude of DNA metabarcoding for providing higher density monitoring and shedding new light on the composition and dynamics of complex zooplankton communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/24/3876DNA metabarcodingcytochrome c oxidase subunit Ihypervariable region V4 18Szooplanktonbiomonitoringcoastal ecosystems |
| spellingShingle | Jorge Moutinho Diego Carreira-Flores Pedro T. Gomes Filipe O. Costa Sofia Duarte Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary Animals DNA metabarcoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I hypervariable region V4 18S zooplankton biomonitoring coastal ecosystems |
| title | Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary |
| title_full | Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary |
| title_short | Assessing the Seasonal and Spatial Dynamics of Zooplankton through DNA Metabarcoding in a Temperate Estuary |
| title_sort | assessing the seasonal and spatial dynamics of zooplankton through dna metabarcoding in a temperate estuary |
| topic | DNA metabarcoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit I hypervariable region V4 18S zooplankton biomonitoring coastal ecosystems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/24/3876 |
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