TY - JOUR
T1 - Passive eDNA collection enhances aquatic biodiversity analysis
AU - Cindy, Bessey
AU - Simon Neil, Jarman
AU - Tiffany, Simpson
AU - Haylea, Miller
AU - Todd, Stewart
AU - John Kenneth, Keesing
AU - Oliver, Berry
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a sensitive and widely used approach for species detection and biodiversity assessment. The most common eDNA collection method in aquatic systems is actively filtering water through a membrane, which is time consuming and requires specialized equipment. Ecological studies investigating species abundance or distribution often require more samples than can be practically collected with current filtration methods. Here we demonstrate how eDNA can be passively collected in both tropical and temperate marine systems by directly submerging filter membranes (positively charged nylon and non-charged cellulose ester) in the water column. Using a universal fish metabarcoding assay, we show that passive eDNA collection can detect fish as effectively as active eDNA filtration methods in temperate systems and can also provide similar estimates of total fish biodiversity. Furthermore, passive eDNA collection enables greater levels of biological sampling, which increases the range of ecological questions that eDNA metabarcoding can address.
AB - Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a sensitive and widely used approach for species detection and biodiversity assessment. The most common eDNA collection method in aquatic systems is actively filtering water through a membrane, which is time consuming and requires specialized equipment. Ecological studies investigating species abundance or distribution often require more samples than can be practically collected with current filtration methods. Here we demonstrate how eDNA can be passively collected in both tropical and temperate marine systems by directly submerging filter membranes (positively charged nylon and non-charged cellulose ester) in the water column. Using a universal fish metabarcoding assay, we show that passive eDNA collection can detect fish as effectively as active eDNA filtration methods in temperate systems and can also provide similar estimates of total fish biodiversity. Furthermore, passive eDNA collection enables greater levels of biological sampling, which increases the range of ecological questions that eDNA metabarcoding can address.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101336990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s42003-021-01760-8
DO - 10.1038/s42003-021-01760-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 33619330
AN - SCOPUS:85101336990
VL - 4
JO - Communications Biology
JF - Communications Biology
SN - 2399-3642
IS - 1
M1 - 236
ER -