Temperature Controls eDNA Persistence across Physicochemical Conditions in Seawater

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01672
• Publication Date: 2022-06-03T18:48:25Z
• Authors: Luke J. McCartin; Samuel A. Vohsen; Susan W. Ambrose; Michael Layden; Catherine S. McFa...; Erik E. Cordes; Jill M. McDermott; Santiago Herrera
• Keywords: Persistence (discontinuity); Environmental DNA; Degradation

Environmental DNA (eDNA) quantification and sequencing are emerging techniques for assessing biodiversity in marine ecosystems. can be transported by ocean currents may remain at detectable concentrations far from its source depending on how long it persist. Thus, predicting the persistence time of eDNA is crucial to defining spatial context information derived it. To investigate physicochemical controls persistence, we performed degradation experiments temperature, pH, oxygen conditions relevant open deep sea. The process was best explained a model with two phases different decay rate constants. During initial phase, degraded rapidly, independent factors. second slowly, strongly controlled weakly not dissolved concentration. We demonstrate that persist quantifiable over 2 weeks low temperatures (≤10 °C) but week or less ≥20 °C. relationship between temperature species. propose general temperature-dependent predict maximum through single-species methods.