Extending deep-sea benthic biodiversity inventories with environmental DNA metabarcoding

• DOI: 10.1007/s00227-023-04205-4
• Publication Date: 2023-04-13T15:04:11Z
• Authors: Delene Oosthuizen; Mathew Seymour; Lara J. Atkinson; Sophie von der He...
• Keywords: Environmental DNA; DNA Barcoding; Biome

Abstract Inventories of biodiversity are crucial for helping support conservation and management efforts, yet the deep-sea, which is largest biome on earth remains vastly understudied. Recent advances in molecular detection methods offer alternative techniques studying inaccessible ecosystems, including those at depth. In this study we utilized environmental DNA metabarcoding, a first deep-sea benthic environments southern Africa, to assess biological diversity test effects depth historical trawling activities communities. Utilising 29 sediment samples (thus focussing predominantly meiofaunal epifaunal biodiversity) targeting 313 bp region mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I gene, recovered 444 OTUs across wide array species genera. Even though many could only be assigned higher taxonomic levels, results showed that differed significantly depth, suggesting even relatively small spatial scales (~ 6 km, gradient 355 m 515 m), eDNA derived detected variation linked gradient. Comparison OTU database with known inventories from sampled area revealed little overlap, highlighting need expanding barcoding efforts aid future survey efforts. Overall our suggest within South African context, increased combination metabarcoding physical sampling capture greater proportion biodiversity. This provides additional opportunities underpin decision-making region, such as evaluating potential sites protection.