DNA-metabarcoding of marine phytoplankton

Analysis of phytoplankton is an important part of marine environmental monitoring. The analyses are normally based on microscopy. DNA-analysis has been proposed as a complement to microscopy, but there is a need for optimization and validation of this method to be able to use it in the monitoring programmes. The goal of this project is to do a full comparison between microscopy- and DNA analysis of phytoplankton.

SMHI is involved in field work on R/V Svea, analyses of results from DNA metabarcoding and microscopy together with environmental data.