Evaluation of Mediterranean sponges as natural samplers for environmental DNA (eDNA)

Marine sponges have emerged as natural samplers of environmental DNA (eDNA), offering an alternative tool for biodiversity monitoring. By filtering large volumes of seawater, they accumulate eDNA from surrounding communities and may enhance species detection where conventional water sampling is limited. Here, we evaluated seven Mediterranean sponge species co-occurring at a single site and observed differences in eDNA recovery. The number of detected fish species was consistent with other Mediterranean studies, but lower than those reported at higher latitudes. These findings highlight the need for further research and protocol optimization to fully harness Mediterranean sponges as natural eDNA samplers.