Pelagic marine and freshwater protist diversity in Kimitkeot region (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada)

This study is the first molecular microbial arctic survey from Canadian High Arctic Research Station Experimental and Reference Area (CHARS ERA), located in Kitikmeot region (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada). The aim of the study was to obtain background information on eukaryotes community of seawater and freshwater ecosystems around Cambridge Bay to have a better understanding of these ecosystems, to compare the microbial diversity of these ecosystems, and to potentially highlight key species that could have important effects on environment, fisheries or human health. Seawater samples were from offshore Cambridge Bay from 2014, 2015 and 2016, and freshwater samples were collected between 2015 and 2017 from Grenier Lake, Ferguson Lake and four smaller lakes. Water samples were filtered and nucleic acid were extracted from the filters. Hypervariable 4 region of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes were amplified and sequenced using high throughput sequencing to reveal present and active microbial community.