Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41451950›Full record

ArticleMolecular ecology resources2026

MetaZooGene Intercalibration Experiment (MZG-ICE): Metabarcoding Marine Zooplankton Diversity of the Global Ocean.

Leocadio Blanco-Bercial, Jennifer M Questel, Paola G Batta-Lona, Ruben Escribano, Tone Falkenhaug, Junya Hirai, Jenny A Huggett, Pedro Martinez Arbizu, Katja T C A Peijnenburg, Leonie Suter and 14 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular ecology resources, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Leocadio Blanco-BercialBermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Arizona State University, St. Georges, Bermuda.
Jennifer M QuestelInstitute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
Paola G Batta-LonaDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut - Avery Point, Groton, Connecticut, USA.
Ruben EscribanoInstituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9843-7723
Tone FalkenhaugFlødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Arendal, Norway.
Junya HiraiAtmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6436-7969
Jenny A HuggettDepartment of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Oceans and Coastal Research, Cape Town, South Africa.
Pedro Martinez ArbizuSenckenberg Am Meer, DZMB, Wilhelmshaven, Niedersachsen, Germany.
Katja T C A PeijnenburgNaturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Leonie SuterAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6434-1766
Agata Weydmann-ZwolickaFaculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poland.
Stacey DubbeldamNaturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Elza DuijmNaturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Elizaveta Ershova-MenzeFlødevigen Research Station, Institute of Marine Research, Arendal, Norway.
Carolina E GonzalezInstituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
Ashrenee GovenderOceanographic Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Johan GroeneveldOceanographic Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Sahar KhodamiSenckenberg Am Meer, DZMB, Wilhelmshaven, Niedersachsen, Germany.
Anna J MacDonaldAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia.
Monika MioduchowskaFaculty of Oceanography and Geography, Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Poland.
Andrea M PolanowskiAustralian Antarctic Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia.
Rocio Rodriguez-PerezBermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Arizona State University, St. Georges, Bermuda.
Todd D O'BrienNOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
Ann BucklinDepartment of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut - Avery Point, Groton, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3750-9348

Funding

Australian Antarctic Division AAS 4556•Environmental Research and Technology Development Fun JPMEERF20224R03•Millennium Institute of Oceanography (ANID) AIM23-0003National Science Foundation OCE-1840868•Naturalis Biodiversity CenterNorwegian Research CouncilScientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)Simons Foundation International,•University of Connecticut, Center for Genomic Innovation (CGI),•University of Gdańsk (Poland)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

DNA metabarcoding of zooplankton biodiversity is used increasingly for monitoring global ocean ecosystems, requiring comparable data from different research laboratories and ocean regions. The MetaZooGene Intercalibration Experiment (MZG-ICE) was designed to examine1 and analyse patterns of variation of DNA sequence data resulting from multi-gene metabarcoding of 10 zooplankton samples carried out by 10 research groups affiliated with the Scientific Committee for Ocean Research (SCOR). Aliquots of DNA extracted from the 10 zooplankton samples were distributed to MZG-ICE groups for metabarcoding of four gene regions: V1-V2, V4 and V9 of nuclear 18S rRNA and mitochondrial COI. Molecular protocols and procedures were recommended; substitutions were allowed as necessary. Resulting data were uploaded to a common repository for centralised statistics and bioinformatics. Based on proportional sequence numbers for abundant phyla, overall patterns of variation were consistent across many-but not all-MZG-ICE groups. V9 showed highest similarity, followed (in order) by V4, V1-V2, and COI. Outlier data were hypothesised to result from the use of different PCR protocols and sequencing platforms, and possible contamination. MZG-ICE results indicated that DNA metabarcoding data from different laboratories and research groups can provide reliable, accurate and valid descriptions of biodiversity of zooplankton throughout the ocean. Recommendations included: pre-screening QA/QC of raw data, detailed records for laboratory protocols, reagents, and instrumentation, and centralised bioinformatics and multivariate statistics. In the absence of universal agreement on standardised protocols or best practices, intercalibration is the best way forward toward validation of DNA metabarcoding of zooplankton diversity for global ocean monitoring.

Indexed as

BiodiversityDNA Barcoding, TaxonomicZooplanktonAnimalsElectron Transport Complex IVOceans and SeasRNA, Ribosomal, 18SSequence Analysis, DNAElectron Transport Complex IVRNA, Ribosomal, 18SbiodiversityDNA metabarcodingecosystem monitoringintercalibrationmarine zooplankton

Identifiers

PMID41451950
PMCPMC12742283

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.