Comparative Multi-Marker Environmental DNA Metabarcoding of Marine Metazoan Communities: Water vs. Sediment
Alice Tagliabue1,2, Giulia Furfaro1,3, Alberto Pallavicini4,5
1Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
Molecular Ecology Resources
|March 25, 2026
Summary
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding effectively assessed metazoan biodiversity in the Southern Adriatic Sea. Sediment and water samples revealed distinct communities, highlighting eDNA
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) Metabarcoding
- Biodiversity Assessment
Background:
- Coastal ecosystems face increasing anthropogenic pressures.
- Understanding metazoan biodiversity is crucial for effective conservation and management.
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a promising tool for comprehensive biodiversity surveys.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate metazoan biodiversity in the Southern Adriatic Sea using eDNA metabarcoding.
- To compare the effectiveness of different genetic markers (COI and 18S) and sample types (sediment vs. water).
- To assess the influence of human impact, distance from coast, and season on biodiversity patterns.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 576 sediment and water samples across three sites and two seasons.
- Application of eDNA metabarcoding using COI and 18S markers.
- Analysis of biodiversity metrics including richness, diversity, and community structure (beta-diversity).
Main Results:
- Both COI and 18S markers revealed similar overall community structures.
- Sediment samples showed higher operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness but lower diversity than water samples.
- Distinct faunal compositions were observed between sediment (benthic) and water (planktonic/nektonic) samples.
Conclusions:
- eDNA metabarcoding is effective for biodiversity assessment in coastal ecosystems.
- Sediment and water sampling provide complementary biodiversity information.
- Integrating eDNA metabarcoding into monitoring programs requires standardization and improved reference databases.
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