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Insights into freshwater ciliate diversity through high throughput DNA metabarcoding
Jeeva Susan Abraham1, Sripoorna Somasundaram1, Swati Maurya1
1Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, New Delhi 110019, India.
FEMS Microbes
|March 7, 2024
Summary
This study reveals the rich freshwater ciliate diversity in Delhi, India, using DNA metabarcoding. It highlights the dominance of specific ciliate classes and the method
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Biodiversity Studies
Background:
- Freshwater ecosystems in India are biodiverse but inadequately studied, particularly ciliate communities.
- Ciliates are vital eukaryotic microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems, influencing microbial loops and nutrient cycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the taxonomic diversity and richness of freshwater ciliates in three Indian sites using DNA metabarcoding.
- To establish a baseline for ciliate diversity in the Delhi region.
Main Methods:
- Environmental DNA extraction from three freshwater sites: Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS), Sanjay Lake (SL), and Raj Ghat pond (RJ).
- High-throughput sequencing of the 18S V4 barcode region for phylogenetic analysis.
- Operational taxonomic unit (OTU) analysis to determine species diversity.
Main Results:
- Maximum species diversity was observed in OBS (106 OTUs), followed by SL (104 OTUs) and RJ (99 OTUs).
- Dominant ciliate classes identified were Oligohymenophorea, Prostomatea, and Spirotrichea across all sites.
- The DNA metabarcoding approach successfully identified a high number of ciliate species, including potentially rare ones.
Conclusions:
- DNA metabarcoding is effective for uncovering ciliate diversity in understudied freshwater bodies.
- Refined reference databases and careful data interpretation are crucial for high-throughput sequencing studies.
- Molecular approaches complement traditional morphological methods for comprehensive ciliate diversity assessment.
