New protocols to get DNA barcodes and better zooplankton collections

What is it about?

Zooplankton is difficult to study, because of this and because many zooplankters are not all time swimming. This directed the "traditional" study to only three groups. This work makes use of a more ample community including all animals capable to swim as zooplankton, even for a short time. The use of light traps increased the species found and make an efficient sampling in short time. In the other handi quiet difficult in may labs to get DNA barcodes for these animals. Here we present a single protocol to amplify from rotifers to fish, including all groups with high efficiency.

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Why is it important?

Zooplankton, in ample sense, is the first community to react to any threat in the freshwater. Protocols here described may work as the first step for a biomonitoring program in any freshwater system, from the tropics to temperate regions