Estimating biodiversity across the tree of life on Mount Everest’s southern flank with environmental DNA

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104848
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15T15:10:51Z
• Authors: Marisa C.W. Lim; Anton Seimon; Batya Nightingale; Charles C.Y. Xu; Stephan R.P. Halloy; Adam J. Solon; Nicholas B. Dragone; Steven K. Schmidt; Alex Tait; Sandra Elvin; Aurora C. Elmore; Tracie A. Seimon
• Keywords: Environmental DNA

Species composition in high-alpine ecosystems is a useful indicator for monitoring climatic and environmental changes at the upper limits of habitable environments. We used DNA (eDNA) analysis to document breadth biodiversity present on Earth's highest mountain, Mt. Everest (8,849 m a.s.l.) Nepal's Khumbu region. In April-May 2019, we collected eDNA from ten ponds streams between 4,500 5,500 m. Using multiple sequencing bioinformatic approaches, identified taxa 36 phyla 187 potential orders across Tree Life Everest's aeolian ecosystem. These organisms, all recorded above m-an elevational belt comprising <3% land surface-represents ∼16% global taxonomic order estimates. Our inventory will aid future high-Himalayan biomonitoring retrospective molecular studies assess over time as climate-driven warming, glacial melt, anthropogenic influences reshape this rapidly transforming world-renowned