Amplicon sequencing for V4 region of 18S rRNA gene of haptophytes in the Tokara strait, south of Kyushu Island in Japan

We conducted detailed observations on the community composition of haptophytes across the Tokara strait, south of Kyushu Island in Japan, using a next generation sequence (NGS) technique. A research cruise was conducted aboard the R/V Tansei-Maru (JAMSTEC) in November 2012. Seawater samples for DNA analysis were collected from surface (5 m depth) and deep chlorophyll a maximum (DCM) layers using Niskin bottles attached to a CTD-RMS system. To reveal the community compositions of haptophytes, NGS amplicon sequencing for the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene fragments was performed with an Ion Torrent PGM system (Thermo Fisher Scientific).