CHALLENGE-2: Water samples for metabarcoding

In order to describe and compare eukaryotic planktonic biodiversity along the Antarctic Peninsula, water samples were taken at a depth of 5 meters from 17 stations that were selected considering, on the one hand, a latitudinal gradient, and on the other, the human impact in these areas represented as water pollution, the presence of cruise ships or the proximity to scientific bases and stations. At each station, 3 samples of 0.5 liters of water were taken using Niskin bottles, and filtered independently through a 0.22 μm Sterivex filter immediately after collection.

The samples were then frozen and stored at -20ºC for subsequent treatment using molecular analysis techniques.