First freshwater member ever reported for the family Bathycoccaceae (Chlorophyta; Archaeplastida) from Argentinean Patagonia revealed by environmental DNAsurvey.

LARA, E.; FERNANDEZ PARRA, L.; ROMINA SCHIAFFINO; IRINA IZAGUIRRE

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2017 p. 45 - 49

0932-4739

We characterized molecularly the first freshwater member ever reported for the family Bathycoccaceae in Lake Musters (Argentinean Patagonia). Members of this family are extremely numerous and play a key ecological role in marine systems as primary producers. We cloned a fragment comprising the SSU rRNA gene + ITS region from environmental DNA using specific mamiellophyte primers. The unique SSU rRNA gene sequence obtained clustered robustly with Bathycoccus prasinos. Analysis of the two-dimensional structure of the ITS region showed the presence of a typical supplementary helix in the ITS-2 region, a synapomorphy of Bathycoccaceae, which confirmed further its phylogenetic placement. We finally discuss the possible causes for the presence of this organism in Lake Musters.