uncultured ciliate Targeted Locus (Loci)

The ciliate community composition in Long Island Sound (LIS), USA, was investigated using high throughput sequencing (Miseq, Illumina) of variable region 4 (V4) of the small subunit rRNA gene (V4-SSU). Six stations on the long axis of the estuary, at two depths (surface and 6 m) were sampled in the summer of 2015. Analysis of ciliate V4-SSU sequences grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) corresponded to the eutrophication gradient, with much higher OTU-richness found in western part of the estuary in comparison to the eastern part.