Influence of 16S rRNA variable region on perceived diversity of marine microbial communities of the Northern North Atlantic.

ABSTRACT: Marine microbes play essential roles in global energy and nutrient cycles. A primary method of determining their diversity and distribution is through sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA genes from environmental samples. However, the perceived community composition may vary significantly based on differences in methodology, including choice of 16S variable region(s). This study investigated the influence of 16S variable region selection (V4-V5 or V6-V8) on perceived community composition and diversity for bacteria, Archaea and chloroplasts by tag-Illumina sequencing. We used 24 samples from the photic zone of the Scotian Shelf, northwest Atlantic, collected during a spring phytoplankton bloom. Taxonomic assignment and community composition varied greatly depending on the choice of variable reg

SUBMITTER: Willis C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6673769 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature