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- Title
Identification of calanoid copepod prey species via molecular detection of carbon fixation genes.
- Authors
Boling, Wilford; Sinclair, Geoff; Wawrik, Boris
- Abstract
Zooplankton and their phytoplankton prey form the basis of the marine food web, yet historically it has been difficult to discern species-specific trophic interactions. Molecular techniques provide opportunities to obtain taxonomic data where the traditional methodologies for gut content analysis lack resolution. The large subunit gene of RubisC/O, rbcL, was utilized as a molecular marker for the identification of prey species in calanoid copepods. Clone libraries were generated from DNA extracted from seawater and whole copepods during a transect cruise on the northern Gulf of Mexico shelf. Sequence data analysis provided evidence of diatoms, nanoplankton-sized chlorophytes, and cyanobacteria in DNA extracted from whole copepods. These data demonstrate that rbcL can be a useful marker for the identification of copepod phytoplankton prey. Combining the described approach with quantitative techniques such as quantitative PCR will provide opportunities for the assessment of species-specific predator-prey interactions.
- Subjects
CALANOIDES; COPEPODA; MOLECULES; GENES; ZOOPLANKTON
- Publication
Marine Biology, 2012, Vol 159, Issue 5, p1165
- ISSN
0025-3162
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00227-011-1877-2