Sequential degradation of Trichodesmium colonies in a flow-through rolling tank experiment

Trichodesmium (IMS101) colonies were inoculated into a flow-through rolling tank fed with water from the Red Sea. After three days, the rolling tank was covered to mimic the sinking into the aphotic zone. After 6 days, the system was fed with water from 100 m, 200 m and 300 m sequentially for the remaining time of the experiment which lasted 14 days in total.Single colonies were collected on several days. Nucleic acids were extracted, RNA was converted to cDNA which was then amplified (phi29) together with the genomic DNA.