Journal
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Volume 191, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106175
Keywords
Microalgae; Taxonomy; Environmental gradients; Eutrophic waters; Estuaries
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Phytoplankton monitoring is crucial for understanding aquatic ecosystems worldwide. This study combines microscopy and eDNA metabarcoding to investigate the phytoplankton community in Urdaibai estuary, revealing significant variations in composition under different environmental conditions. Metabarcoding identified additional species not observed with microscopy, while microscopy overcame the quantification limitations of eDNA metabarcoding. A combination of techniques is recommended for comprehensive insight.
Phytoplankton monitoring is essential for the global understanding of aquatic ecosystems. The present research studies the phytoplankton community of the Urdaibai estuary, combining microscopy and eDNA metabarcoding for the first time in the area. The main aims were to describe the phytoplankton community composition in relation to the environmental conditions of the estuary, and to compare the two methods used. Diatoms Minutocellus polymorphus and Chaetoceros tenuissimus dominated the outer estuary, being replaced by Teleaulax acuta (cryptophyte), Kryptoperidinium foliaceum (dinoflagellate) and Cyclotella spp. (diatom) towards the inner area. This change was mainly prompted by salinity and nutrients. Metabarcoding revealed the presence of 223 species that were not observed by microscopy in previous studies in the estuary. However, several characteristic species (e.g., K. foliaceum) were only detected with microscopy. Additionally, microscopy covered the limitations of eDNA metabarcoding concerning quantification. Thus, to give a full insight, a combination of techniques is recommended.
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