Towards DNA chip technology as a standard analytical tool for the identification of marine organisms in biodiversity and ecosystem science (Fish & Chips)

The aim of the ‘‘Fish & Chips’’ project is the development of DNA chips for the identification of marine organisms in European Seas as a cost effective, reliable and efficient technology in marine biodiversity and ecosystem science. Many marine organisms, such as (1) eggs and larvae of fishes and invertebrates, (2) zoo- and phytoplankton, and (3) benthic invertebrates, are difficult to identify by morphological characters, and for many groups the skills of specialised taxonomists are needed. The classical microscopy methods are extremely time consuming and require a high degree of taxonomic expertise. Consequently, the basic step of identifying such organisms is a major bottleneck in marine biodiversity and ecosystem science. The ‘‘Fish & Chips’’ project aims to demonstrate that DNA chips can be a new innovative tool for the identification of marine animals and phytoplankton. The fish chips will comprise capture oligonucleotides for fishes of the North Sea, Baltic Sea, North-Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea. This chip will facilitate ecosystem research in terms of ichthyoplankton community studies, as well as dispersal of fish eggs and larvae. The phytoplankton chip will focus mainly on unicellular algae from the North Sea. This DNA chip will enable monitoring of biodiversity, especially for pico- and nanoplankton species which lack morphological features for identification. The detection of harmful algae blooms is also an important application. The invertebrate chip will focus on important prey species of demersal fishes in the Mediterranean, as well as bioindicator organisms, such as polychaetes, that are difficult to identify by morphological characters