title: Deep COI sequencing of standardized benthic samples unveils overlooked diversity of Jordanian coral reefs in the northern Red Sea.
abstract: High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of DNA barcodes (metabarcoding), particularly when combined with standardized sampling protocols, is one of the most promising approaches for censusing overlooked cryptic invertebrate communities. We present biodiversity estimates based on sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene for coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba, a semi-enclosed system in the northern Red Sea. Samples were obtained from standardized sampling devices (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)) deployed for 18 months. DNA barcoding of non-sessile specimens >2 mm revealed 83 OTUs in six phyla, of which only 25% matched a reference sequence in public databases. Metabarcoding of the 2 mm - 500 μm and sessile bulk fractions revealed 1197 OTUs in 15 animal phyla, of which only 4.9% matched reference barcodes. These results highlight the scarcity of COI data for cryptobenthic organisms of the Red Sea. Compared with data obtained using similar methods, our results suggest that Gulf of Aqaba reefs are less diverse than two Pacific coral reefs but much more diverse than an Atlantic oyster reef at a similar latitude. The standardized approaches used here show promise for establishing baseline data on biodiversity, monitoring the impacts of environmental change, and quantifying patterns of diversity at regional and global scales.
authors: a Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.|b Laboratory for Molecular Microbial Ecology, Marine Science Station, The University of Jordan and Yarmouk University, Aqaba 77110, Jordan.
authors: Mamoon M D
authors: MM
authors: Al-Rshaidat
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Snider
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Sydney
authors: S
authors: Rosebraugh
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Amanda M
authors: AM
authors: Devine
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Devine
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Laetitia
authors: L
authors: Plaisance
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Knowlton
authors: c National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.
authors: Matthieu
authors: M
authors: Leray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D044822:Biodiversity; D057894:Coral Reefs; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005843:Geography; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D019156:Indian Ocean; D007597:Jordan; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures; COI; DNA barcoding; Golfe d’Aqaba; Gulf of Aqaba; codage à barres de l’ADN; metabarcoding; métacodage à barres; structures autonomes de suivi des récifs