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Streamlining large-scale oceanic biomonitoring using passive eDNA samplers integrated into vessel's continuous pump underway seawater systems

  • 0Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
The Science of the Total Environment +

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July 2, 2024

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July 2, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Passive samplers offer a scalable solution for ocean environmental DNA (eDNA) biomonitoring. This study shows artificial sponge samplers effectively collect eDNA from underway seawater, complementing traditional filtration methods.

Area Of Science

  • Marine biology
  • Environmental science
  • Molecular ecology

Background

  • Scaling ocean biomonitoring is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems.
  • Traditional water filtration for environmental DNA (eDNA) is time-consuming and limits large-scale application.
  • Passive samplers offer a potential solution for efficient eDNA collection at sea.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate a novel artificial sponge passive sampler for oceanic eDNA biomonitoring.
  • To compare the performance of passive sampling with standard water filtration.
  • To assess the feasibility of integrating passive samplers onto ocean-going vessels.

Main Methods

  • Deployment of artificial sponge passive samplers connected to underway seawater systems.
  • Comparison with traditional water filtration methods across six locations from New Zealand to Antarctica.
  • Eukaryote metabarcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene for biodiversity analysis.

Main Results

  • No significant difference in phylogenetic alpha-diversity between passive samplers and water filtration.
  • Both methods showed decreasing Zero-Radius Operational Taxonomic Units (ZOTUs) with increasing latitude.
  • Passive samplers detected more phyla and a higher estimated number of ZOTUs than filtration, despite higher replicate variability.

Conclusions

  • Artificial sponge passive samplers show promise for large-scale offshore marine eDNA biomonitoring.
  • The technology can be integrated into existing ocean-going fleet operations without interference.
  • Further improvements in passive sampler technology are needed to enhance replicate consistency and optimize biodiversity recovery.

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