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Environmental conditions drive zooplankton community structure in the deep-water region of the southern Gulf of Mexico: a molecular approach
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  • Francesco Cicala,
  • María Arteaga,
  • Sharon Herzka,
  • Miguel Martinez,
  • Clara Hereu,
  • Sylvia Jimenez-Rosenberg,
  • Anaid Saavedra-Flores,
  • Javier Robles-Flores,
  • Ricardo Gomez,
  • Paola Batta-Lona,
  • Clara Galindo
Francesco Cicala
CICESE

Corresponding Author:fracicala@gmail.com

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María Arteaga
CICESE
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Sharon Herzka
CICESE
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Miguel Martinez
CICESE
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Clara Hereu
CICESE
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Sylvia Jimenez-Rosenberg
CICESE
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Anaid Saavedra-Flores
CICESE
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Javier Robles-Flores
CICESE
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Ricardo Gomez
CICESE
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Paola Batta-Lona
CICESE
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Clara Galindo
CICESE
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Abstract

Zooplankton play a pivotal role in sustaining the majority of marine ecosystems. The distribution patterns and diversity of zooplankton provide key information for understanding the functioning of these ecosystems. Nevertheless, due to the numerous cryptic and sibling species and the lack of diagnostic characteristics for immature developmental stages, the identification of the global-to-local patterns of zooplankton biodiversity and biogeography remains a challenge in different research fields. Here, the spatial and temporal changes in the zooplankton community from the open waters of the southern section of the Gulf of Mexico were assessed using a multilocus sequence analysis and metabarcoding approach based on the genetic information of 18S and cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) genes. Additionally, a multi-scale analysis was implemented to evaluate which environmental predictors may explain the variability in the structure of the zooplankton community. Our finding suggests that the synergistic effects of oxygen, temperature, and longitude (intended as a proxy for still unexplored forces) may explain both spatial and temporal changes in the zooplankton community. Furthermore, the zooplankton distribution likely reflects the coexistence of three heterogeneous ecoregions and a bio-physical partitioning of the studied area. Finally, some taxa were either exclusive or predominant with either 18S or COI data. This may suggest that comprehensive assessments of the zooplankton community may be more accurately met by the use of multi-locus approaches.
19 Mar 2021Submitted to Molecular Ecology
06 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
06 May 2021Assigned to Editor
20 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Jul 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Aug 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Sep 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Sep 20211st Revision Received
11 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
14 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Oct 20212nd Revision Received
22 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Accept