Diatom amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA from 2008-2014

These data include diatom composition information from a fixed sampling site in Narragansett, Bay, RI, USA over six years between dates 2008-12-09 and 2014-12-30. Sampling occurred monthly from 2008 to 2013 and twice per month in 2014. Diatom composition data, in the form of amplicon sequencing variants, were obtained via high throughput sequencing of filtered biomass samples.

Diatoms are important contributors to marine primary production; however, their vast diversity makes species-level identification challenging. This dataset, collected over many years, includes diatom composition data at a more detailed level than ever before observed in Narragansett Bay and highlights the importance of time series for understanding phytoplankton dynamics in coastal systems. These data were collected by various students over the years with supervision from Dr. Tatiana Rynearson of URI's Graduate School of Oceanography. Diana Fontaine processed these data and together, Dr. Rynearson and her student Ms. Fontaine published their results in Limnology and Oceanography.