A Comparative Evaluation of eDNA Metabarcoding Primers in Fish Community Monitoring in the East Lake

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202401.0012.v1
• Publication Date: 2024-01-04T01:16:38Z
• Authors: Yiwen Li; Minzhe Tang; Suxiang Lu; Chengchi Fang; Fan Xiong; Honghui Zeng; Shunping He
• Keywords: Environmental DNA; Primer (cosmetics); Taxonomic rank

East Lake in Wuhan, China, harbors a high number of freshwater fish species great conservation value, concurrently serving as vital resources for local livelihoods. However, the ecosystem is threatened by an array anthropogenic activities, thus requiring consistent monitoring community to enable more efficacious management. In place conventional surveying methods, we undertook first analysis distribution within via metabarcoding environmental DNA (eDNA). The accuracy and efficacy eDNA relies heavily upon selecting appropriate primer set PCR amplification. Given varying conditions taxonomic diversity across distinct study systems, it remains challenge propose optimal genetic marker universal use. Thus, becomes necessary select primers suitable composition Lake. Here, evaluated performance two sets, Mifish-U Metafish, designed amplify 12S rRNA barcoding genes fishes. Our results detected total 116 units 51 species, with beta indicating significant differences structure between 6 sampling locations encompassing While was difficult accurately compare species-level discriminatory power amplification bias primers, Mifish outperformed Metafish terms specificity taxa reproducibility. These findings will assist selection eDNA-based biodiversity other ecosystems.