A metabarcode based (species) inventory of the northern Adriatic phytoplankton

The northern Adriatic is characterised as the coldest and most productive marine area of Mediterranean, which due to high nutrient levels introduced by river discharges, largest Italian Po River (at same time also freshwater input into Mediterranean). a very shallow ecosystem with ocean current patterns that result in long retention times plankton area. phytoplankton biodiversity abundance are well-studied, through many scientific long-term monitoring reports. These datasets were based on morphological traits traditionally obtained light microscopy. recent comprehensive eastern checklist was published more than 20 years ago still valuable today. Since taxonomy systematics constantly being reviewed (partly new molecular methods species identification complement classical methodologies), checklists need be updated complemented. Today, metabarcoding markers gains importance research monitoring. Here, we report use throughput sequencing re-examine taxonomic richness provide knowledge diversity standardised microscopy method. This study aimed an up-to-date list phylogenetic relationships Adriatic, sequence variability barcoding genes resolved advanced tools, namely metabarcoding. used advance conventional communities for purpose assessing status environments. Monthly two-year net sampling targeted six groups including Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) Chrysophyceae (golden algae) belonging Ochrophyta, Dinophyceae (dinoflagellates), Cryptophyceae (cryptophytes), Haptophyta (mostly coccolithophorids) Chlorophyta Prasinophyceae (prasinophytes) Chlorophyceae (protist green algae). Generated data taxonomically assigned redistributed two kingdoms, five classes, 32 orders, 49 families 67 genera. diverse group dinoflagellates, comprising 34 found genera (48.3%), following diatoms 23 (35.4%) coccolithophorids three (4.0%). In terms genetic diversity, results bit different: great majority sequences one nucleotide tolerance (ASVs, Amplicon variants) or genus level dinoflagellates (83.8%), 13.7% 1.6% Chlorophyta, respectively. Although taxa have not been detected considered common this area, revealed dinoflagellate reported previous checklists, along few from other previously. We here describe first 18S metabarcode inventory Sea.