You are here:
Comparing metagenomic and morphological periphyton assemblage data to major environmental gradients: A pilot study from the National Rivers and Stream Assessment
Citation:
Mitchell, R., A. Pollard, L. Yuan, AND E. Pilgrim. Comparing metagenomic and morphological periphyton assemblage data to major environmental gradients: A pilot study from the National Rivers and Stream Assessment. Society of Freshwater Science 2016 Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, May 22 - 26, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
Present initial results of the first DNA metabarcoding study of NRSA periphyton samples.
Description:
Biomonitoring has historically utilized morphological identifications to assess biological assemblages, but in recent years, new methods have been developed that allow for faster and more complete identification of biological assemblages by DNA metabarcoding. Unlike morphological data, metabarcoding allows for a broader identification of taxonomic groups such as Fungi that are infrequently identified in morphological studies. In the current study we use side-by-side samples collected during the summer of 2014 as part of US EPA’s National Rivers and Streams Assessment to compare and contrast relationships between DNA identification and morphological periphyton assemblage data and major environmental gradients. This study allowed for a direct comparisons of the two taxonomic identification techniques over a large spatial scale to assess their efficacy at identifying important environmental gradients that may be driving periphyton assemblages. Initial findings show primary producers from the genetic and morphological data share similar relationships to certain environmental gradients (e.g. conductivity and total nitrogen), but DNA results suggest additional periphyton groups not typically assessed also show strong relationships may provide additional insights.
