Dataset: Q-PCR counts of Synechococcus clades from R/V Knorr, R/V Kilo Moana, R/V Seward Johnson KN192-05, KM0701, SJ0609 in the S. Atlantic subtropical gyre and Benguela upwelling region from 2006-2007 (Fe_Synechococcus project)

Synechococcus is one of the most abundant phytoplankton on earth and contributes significantly to marine primary production, thus an understanding of the distribution and diversity of this genus is important.  This quantitative PCR enumeration of nine marine Synechococcus clades found in multiple oceanic regimes is the most comprehensive study to date.  This work builds on the research of Zwirglmaier et al (2007 and 2008) and Tai and Palenik (2010), confirming patterns seen previously and extending observations into new areas, but it also provides new information on previously unstudied clades, the environmental niches of different clades, and defining the dominant oligotrophic clade.