eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals Microbial Community Composition in Tropical Mangrove Forests in Makassar, Indonesia

Area of Science:

• Marine microbiology
• Ecosystem ecology
• Coastal conservation

Background:

• Mangrove ecosystems are vital coastal habitats supporting microbial communities crucial for nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability.
• Microbial diversity in tropical mangroves, especially in Indonesia, is not well understood.
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a powerful tool for microbial community assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess microbial species diversity in the Lantebung Mangrove Forest, Makassar, Indonesia, using eDNA metabarcoding.
• To characterize the microbial communities present in mangrove waters and identify dominant taxa.
• To provide baseline data for ecological monitoring and conservation of Indonesian mangrove ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding was performed on water samples from two distinct locations within the Lantebung Mangrove Forest.
• The 18S rRNA gene marker was utilized for high-throughput sequencing.
• Bioinformatic processing was conducted using QIIME 2 to analyze sequencing data and identify microbial species.

Main Results:

• A total of 103 microbial species were identified across five kingdoms: Protista (48.5%), Chromista (28.0%), Animalia (12.6%), Bacteria (7.8%), and Fungi (2.9%).
• Dominant taxa included photosynthetic protists and chromists, alongside important bacterial and fungal groups.
• Species richness varied between sampling sites, with the more exposed site (P1) showing higher richness and the sheltered site (P2) showing greater abundance.

Conclusions:

• 18S rRNA-based eDNA metabarcoding is effective for capturing microbial diversity in mangrove ecosystems.
• Microbial community structure is influenced by environmental factors like light, salinity, and nutrient flow.
• The study provides essential baseline data for the conservation and management of Indonesian mangrove biodiversity.