DNA metabarcoding effectively quantifies diatom responses to nutrients in streams.

ABSTRACT: Nutrient pollution from human activities remains a common problem facing stream ecosystems. Identifying ecological responses to phosphorus and nitrogen can inform decisions affecting the protection and management of streams and their watersheds. Diatoms are particularly useful because they are a highly diverse group of unicellular algae found in nearly all aquatic environments and are sensitive responders to increased nutrient concentrations. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding of stream diatoms as an approach to quantifying effects of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN). Threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN) identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that increased or decreased along TP and TN gradients along with nutrient concentrations at which assemblages had substantial c

SUBMITTER: Smucker NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7731896 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature