Data from: Deep COI sequencing of standardized benthic samples unveils overlooked diversity of Jordanian coral reefs in the Northern Red Sea

High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) of DNA barcodes (metabarcoding), particularly when combined with standardized sampling protocols, is one of the most promising approaches for censusing overlooked cryptic invertebrate communities. We present biodiversity estimates based on sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene for coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba, a semi-enclosed system in the Northern Red Sea. Samples were obtained from standardized sampling devices [Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS)] deployed for 18 months. DNA barcoding of non-sessile specimens >2mm revealed 83 OTUs in six phyla, of which only 25% matched a reference sequence in public databases. Metabarcoding of the 2mm-500μm and sessile bulk fractions revealed 1197 OTUs in 15 animal phyla, of which only 4.9% matched reference barcodes. These results highlight the scarcity of COI data for cryptobenthic organisms of the Red Sea. Compared with data obtained using similar methods, our results suggest that Gulf of Aqaba reefs are less diverse than two Pacific coral reefs but much more diverse than an Atlantic oyster reef at a similar latitude. The standardized approaches used here show promise for establishing baseline data on biodiversity, monitoring the impacts of environmental change, and quantifying patterns of diversity at regional and global scales.

基于DNA条形码的高通量测序（High-Throughput Sequencing，HTS，即宏条形码（metabarcoding）技术），在结合标准化采样方案时，是调查长期被忽视的隐秘无脊椎动物群落最具潜力的研究手段之一。本研究针对北红海半封闭海域亚喀巴湾（Gulf of Aqaba）的珊瑚礁，基于细胞色素c氧化酶亚基1（cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1，COI）基因的测序结果，提供了对应的生物多样性评估数据。样本通过部署时长18个月的标准化采样装置——自主珊瑚礁监测结构（Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures，ARMS）采集获得。对尺寸大于2毫米的非固着标本进行DNA条形码分析，共检出6个动物门的83个操作分类单元（Operational Taxonomic Units，OTUs），其中仅25%可与公共数据库中的参考序列匹配；对尺寸介于2毫米至500微米之间的样本以及固着整体组分开展宏条形码分析，共检出15个动物门的1197个OTUs，其中仅4.9%可匹配参考条形码序列。上述结果凸显出红海隐秘底栖生物的COI基因数据极度匮乏的现状。与采用同类方法获取的研究数据相比，本研究结果显示，亚喀巴湾珊瑚礁的生物多样性低于两处太平洋珊瑚礁，但远高于同纬度的大西洋牡蛎礁。本研究采用的标准化方法，可为建立生物多样性基线数据、监测环境变化的影响，以及量化区域与全球尺度下的生物多样性分布模式提供可行的技术支撑。