A5072388079- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Marine and Coastal Ecosystems
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- COVID-19 diagnosis using AI
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Study of Mite Species
National University of Singapore
2018-2024
University of Washington
2024
National Parks Board
2019-2023
Public Health Institute
2023
Sapienza University of Rome
2023
University of Nis
2023
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
2019
Since the release of MinION sequencer in 2014, it has been applied to great effect remotest and harshest environments, even space. One most common applications is for nanopore-based DNA barcoding situ species identification discovery, yet existing sample capability limited (n ≤ 10). Here, we assembled a portable sequencing setup comprising BentoLab developed workflow capable processing 32 samples simultaneously. We demonstrated this enhanced out at sea, where collected barcoded them onboard...
Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS) are standardised devices for sampling biodiversity in complex marine benthic habitats such as coral reefs. When coupled with DNA sequencing, these greatly expand our ability to document biodiversity. Unfortunately, the existing workflow processing macrofaunal samples (>2-mm) ARMS pipeline—which involves Sanger sequencing—is expensive, laborious, and thus prohibitive researchers. Here, we propose a faster, more cost-effective alternative by...
Abstract Background Sharks and rays are some of the most threatened marine taxa due to high levels bycatch significant demand for meat fin-related products in many Asian communities. At least 25% shark ray species considered be with extinction. In particular, density reef sharks Pacific has declined 3–10% pre-human levels. Elasmobranchs thought sparse highly urbanised turbid environments. Low visibility coupled elusive behaviour pose a challenge diversity estimation biomonitoring efforts as...
Synchronous multispecific coral spawning generally occurs annually and forms an integral part of the life cycle. Apart from times species participation, however, much else remains unknown. Here, we applied environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to study two tropical reef sites contrasting cover before, during after spawning. Using coral-ITS2 vertebrate-12S markers, evaluated eDNA as alternative monitoring tool by assessing its capabilities in detecting tracking relative abundances fish eDNA....
Abstract Coral reefs are among the richest marine ecosystems on Earth, but there remains much diversity hidden within cavities of complex reef structures awaiting discovery. While abundance corals and other macroinvertebrates known to influence reef‐associated organisms, unknown drivers cryptobenthic diversity. A combination standardized sampling with 12 units Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS) high‐throughput sequencing was utilized uncover cryptobiome across equatorial in...
Few tropical marine sites have been thoroughly characterised for their animal species, even though they constitute the largest proportion of multicellular diversity. A number focused biodiversity sampling programmes amassed immense collections to address this shortfall, but obstacles remain due lack identification tools and large undescribed species globally. These problems can be partially addressed with DNA barcodes ("biocodes"), which potential facilitate estimation diversity identify...
Abstract Many corals depend upon the highly specialised and intricate relationship they form with Symbiodiniaceae algal symbionts. Porites lutea is a massive reef-building coral found throughout Southeast Asia that hosts these endosymbionts obligately. Yet despite prevalence importance of P. as one most dominant here, its associated communities have not been precisely characterised. In this study, we used high-throughput DNA amplicon sequencing nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) to...
Abstract Giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegidae) and wedgefishes (Rhinidae) are some of the most threatened marine taxa in world, with 15 16 known species exhibiting global population declines categorized as Critically Endangered according to International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List Threatened Species. The recent inclusion all Appendix II Convention on Trade Species Wild Fauna Flora (CITES) necessitates more rigorous enforcement by regulatory authorities. Challenges regulating...
Over half of all extant stony corals (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Scleractinia) harbour endosymbiotic dinoflagellates the family Symbiodiniaceae, forming foundational species modern shallow reefs. However, whether these associations are conserved on coral phylogeny remains unknown. Here we aim to characterise Symbiodiniaceae communities in eight closely-related genera Merulina , Goniastrea and Scapophyllia, determine if variation endosymbiont community structure can be explained by phylogenetic...
Abstract The mitochondrial genetic code is much more varied than the standard code. invertebrate code, for instance, comprises six initiation codons, including five alternative start codons. However, only two codons are known in echinoderm and flatworm canonical ATG GTG. Here, we analyzed 23 Asteroidea mitogenomes, ten newly sequenced species unambiguously identified at least other ATT ATC, both of which also initiate translation genes invertebrates. These findings underscore diversity...
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) with metabarcoding or metagenomics will likely become a major biomonitoring tool in the 21st century, perhaps even more so face of increased coastal urbanization and its associated effects such as pollution, land reclamation, seabed dredging. Together, these impacts consequent high turbidity pose severe challenges to traditional survey techniques that rely heavily on visual observations. We here demonstrate eDNA can be used for turbid waters, using Singapore...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a powerful tool for studying biodiversity in forests and tree canopies. However, collecting representative eDNA samples from these high complex environments remains challenging. Traditional methods, such as surface swabbing or rolling, are labor-intensive require significant effort to achieve adequate coverage. This study proposes novel approach unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) collect within canopies by using technique. The method involves lowering probe...
Abstract In Singapore, 10 captive lions tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR. Genomic analyses of nanopore sequencing confirmed human-to-animal transmission the Delta variant. Viral genomes from and zookeeper shared a unique spike protein substitution, S:A1016V. Widespread among humans can increase likelihood anthroponosis.
Abstract Aquatic viruses are major threats to global aquacultural productivity. While conventional diagnostic methods for disease investigation laborious, time‐consuming, and often involve the sacrifice of animals, environmental DNA RNA (eDNA/eRNA) tools have potential in being non‐invasive alternatives effective early detection various pathogens simultaneously. In this study, three seawater filtration methods—Sterivex syringe filtration, centrifugal ultrafiltration, vacuum pump with iron...
The complete mitochondrial genome of the widespread and common Indo-Pacific sea star Archaster typicus has been sequenced in this study. mitogenome is 16,230 base pairs (bp) length, with 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs 2 rRNAs. Gene order its PCGs rRNAs matches those nine other asteroid taxa included for comparison study, it a similar nucleotide composition 33.08% A, 26.38% T, 25.53% C 15.01% G nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses place A. as sister group to Acanthaster spp.,...
Abstract Accurate identification and association of larval specimens with adults is a major challenge in insect taxonomy. Fortunately, it now possible for nonexperts to sort collections bulk samples DNA barcodes rapidly cost-effectively. We demonstrate this process using nanopore barcoding 757 marine insects (Insecta: Gerromorpha), which 81% were nymphs many did not have co-occurring adult males specific identification. successfully associated 738 (97%) nine gerromorphan species, would been...
Abstract Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structure (ARMS) are standardised devices for sampling biodiversity in complex marine benthic habitats such as coral reefs. When coupled with DNA sequencing, these greatly expand our ability to document biodiversity. Unfortunately, the existing workflow processing macrofaunal samples (>2-mm) ARMS pipeline—which involves Sanger sequencing—is expensive, laborious, and thus prohibitive researchers. Here, we propose a faster, more cost-effective alternative...
Abstract Gerromorpha Popov, 1971 is a fascinating and diverse insect lineage that evolved about 200 Mya to spend their entire life cycle on the air–water interface have since colonized all types of aquatic habitats. The subfamily Halobatinae Bianchi, 1896 particularly interesting because some species adapted open ocean—a habitat where insects are very rarely found. Several attempts been made reconstruct phylogenetic hypotheses this subfamily, but use few partial gene sequences recovered only...
Abstract Background DNA metabarcoding applies high-throughput sequencing approaches to generate numerous barcodes from mixed sample pools for mass species identification and community characterisation. To date, however, most studies employ second-generation platforms like Illumina, which are limited by short read lengths longer turnaround times. While third-generation such as the MinION (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) can sequence reads even in real-time, application of these has remained...
The complete mitochondrial genome of the feather star Cenometra bella was sequenced in this study. mitogenome is 15,872 bp length, with 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA, and two rRNA, nucleotide composition as follows: 24.38% A, 47.79% T, 11.16% C, 16.68% G. Phylogenetic analyses place C. closely related to Stephanometra indica, consistent previous inferences.