Diversity, community structure, and quantity of eukaryotic phytoplankton revealed using 18S rRNA and plastid 16S rRNA genes and pigment markers: a case study of the Pearl River Estuary.

ABSTRACT: Understanding consistencies and discrepancies in characterizing diversity and quantity of phytoplankton is essential for better modeling ecosystem change. In this study, eukaryotic phytoplankton in the Pearl River Estuary, South China Sea were investigated using nuclear 18S rRNA and plastid 16S or 23S rRNA genes and pigment analysis. It was found that 18S abundance poorly explained the variations in total chlorophyll a (Chl-a). However, the ratios of log-transformed 18S abundance to Chl-a in the major phytoplankton groups were generally environment dependent, suggesting that the ratio has potential as an indicator of the physiological state of phytoplankton. The richness of 18S-based operational taxonomic units was positively correlated with the richness of 16S-based a

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10449762 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature