Metabarcoding of Freshwater Green Microalgae from Two Urban Streams in the Philippines

Gerard Clinton L. Que; Libertine Rose S. Sanchez; Wenzel E. Perian; Wilberto D. Monotilla

doi:10.22146/jtbb.15676

Gerard Clinton L. Que Science Education Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City Philippines, 1631; National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5373-5092
Libertine Rose S. Sanchez Science Education Institute, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City Philippines, 1631; National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
Wenzel E. Perian National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101
Wilberto D. Monotilla National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 1101 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4015-6283

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.15676

Keywords: 23S, eDNA, Green microalgae, Metabarcoding, V4, V9

Abstract

Green microalgae (Chlorophyta) are found worldwide in various environments. Currently, there are few studies on Philippine freshwater green microalgae and traditional identification methods using morphology and life cycle characters are time consuming and may be unreliable. This study used eDNA and Illumina sequencing to sample algal communities in two urban streams situated in a local university campus and found 39 chlorophyte genera. Three markers were used and each marker detected taxa not found by the other markers, suggesting that a multimarker approach might be best for future metabarcoding studies and that other gene markers should be tested for utility.

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