Wairepo Kettlehole cyanobacterial samples Targeted Locus (Loci). wetland metagenome

New Zealand ephemeral wetlands are ecologically important, containing up to 12% of threatened native plants species and frequently exhibiting conspicuous cyanobacterial growth. Heterotrophic bacteria associated with phototrophs, including cyanobacteria can influence primary production and nutrient cycling. We have characterised cyanobacteria from the Wairepo Kettleholes Conservation Area and their associated bacteria. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of cyanobacterial biomass and phylogenetic analyses identified several OTUs belonging to each of the genera: Nostoc, Calothrix and Leptolyngbya. One Nostoc OTU that formed macroscopic colonies dominated the cyanobacterial community.Using incubation experiments we examined the impact of nutrients on the bacteria associated with these Nostoc colonies.