Characterization of Epiphytic Bacterial Communities using Next-Generation DNA Sequencing

Session: Poster session

M. Woller-Skar, Grand Valley State University, [email protected]
Amy Russell, Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University , [email protected]

Abstract

Epiphytic biofilms are common in wetland, lotic and lentic ecosystems. These communities often provide key services, as they represent autocthonous carbon, especially in mid-order streams, and may facilitate nutrient cycling. Characterization of the bacterial communities present in these biofilms is extremely complex. Due to both their potential role in aquatic systems and the complexity of their identification, our goal was to utilize next-generation DNA sequencing techniques to characterize epiphytic microbial communities at different depths, and to compare them using multivariate techniques. We rinsed blades of giant kelp, collected from two depths, to remove loosely attached epiphytic bacteria. We stored these samples in 50 mL centrifuge tubes at –20 °C. Total DNA will be isolated from these samples, and bacterial 12S rDNA amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This amplified region will then be sequenced using the MiSeq platform, and sequences will be identified to lowest taxonomic level by screening through GenBank. We will compare community composition of biofilms collected at two depths using non-metric multidimensional scaling.

1. Keyword
biofilm

2. Keyword
species composition

3. Keyword
epiphytes

4. Additional Keyword
next-generation sequencing