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.