The comparison of molecules with morphology

One of the objectives of the project was to validate the obtained results from molecular data by using a traditional morphological approach. We welcome in the project Manuel Orobitg, a student in the Master in Oceanography and Marine Environment Management of the University of Barcelona. In his MSc Thesis Manuel will analyse morphologically the samples from the Maërl community in Islas Cíes and Cabrera that were collected at the same time than the samples for genetics and were preserved in formalin.

Manuel will identify morphospecies of the major groups, and will identify to species level the polychaetes with the help of Dr. Daniel Martin. He will also obtain sequences from the main species so that we will be able to identify them unequivocally in our genetic metabarcodes.

Aspect of a Maërl sample

Manuel in action sieving samples

We expect that this morphological dataset will confirm the usefulness and completeness of molecular techniques, but it might also uncover any bias, if present.

We filtered the samples with the same protocol used for the genetic samples, and Manuel is now doing the long and time-consuming process of sample sorting and group separation...best of lucks, Manuel!