Metabarcoding is powerful yet still blind: a comparative analysis of morphological and molecular surveys of seagrass communities.

ABSTRACT: In the context of the sixth wave of extinction, reliable surveys of biodiversity are increasingly needed to infer the cause and consequences of species and community declines, identify early warning indicators of tipping points, and provide reliable impact assessments before engaging in activities with potential environmental hazards. DNA metabarcoding has emerged as having potential to provide speedy assessment of community structure from environmental samples. Here we tested the reliability of metabarcoding by comparing morphological and molecular inventories of invertebrate communities associated with seagrasses through estimates of alpha and beta diversity, as well as the identification of the most abundant taxa. Sediment samples were collected from six Zostera marina seagrass meadows

SUBMITTER: Cowart DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4323199 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature