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Changes in exported key phytoplankton taxa related to a warm anomaly in the Fram Strait inferred from three complementary 18S rRNA gene meta-barcoding primer sets
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  • Deo Florence Onda,
  • Christian Wolf,
  • Katja Metfies,
  • Ian Salter,
  • Eva Noethig
Deo Florence Onda

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Christian Wolf
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Katja Metfies
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Ian Salter
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
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Eva Noethig
Alfred Wegener Institut Helmholtz Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung
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Abstract

The Arctic pelagic environment is expected to strongly alter due to global climate change. As a consequence, modification of the unicellular plankton species composition and biomass, with consequences to biogeochemical cycling and pelagic food web, is expected. In this study we used meta-barcoding of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene to profile eukaryotic microbial communities exported to deeper water layers at the Long-Term Ecological Research Site HAUSGARTEN in the northeastern Fram Strait. We collected sinking particles at ca. 80 to 300 m depths using long-term deployed sediment traps and analyzed selected samples of spring and summer periods from 2000-2011. Acknowledging the limitations and biases of currently used 18S rRNA gene meta-barcoding primers in detecting certain taxa especially from environmental samples, we developed new primer sets and compared them with those already in use. Using the information generated by three different primer sets, the results of our study suggest decreasing trends in the abundances of large-cell phytoplankton (i.e., diatoms) and increasing pico-phytoplankton (Micromonas sp. and haptophytes) during the warm anomaly of 2005-2007. Phylogenetic analyses further revealed the displacement of cold-adapted with warm-adapted phylotypes of Micromonas and haptophytes, which could be related to the warming event. Ecotype-level changes observed in this study do not only suggest changing structures in community composition and ecosystem functioning but also in the biogeography and distribution of some species. These data provided new insights and information on the potential diversity changes and species displacement brought about by the environmental changes occurring in the Arctic Ocean.
05 Mar 2020Submitted to Molecular Ecology
05 Mar 2020Assigned to Editor
05 Mar 2020Submission Checks Completed
25 Mar 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 May 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 May 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor