An integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding

Perry, William Bernard; Seymour, Mathew; Orsini, Luisa; Jâms, Ifan Bryn; Milner, Nigel; Edwards, François; Harvey, Rachel; de Bruyn, Mark; Bista, Iliana; Walsh, Kerry; Emmett, Bridget ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2713-4389; Blackman, Rosetta; Altermatt, Florian; Lawson Handley, Lori; Mächler, Elvira; Deiner, Kristy; Bik, Holly M.; Carvalho, Gary; Colbourne, John; Cosby, Bernard Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5645-3373; Durance, Isabelle; Creer, Simon. 2024 An integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding. Nature Communications, 15, 4372. 13, pp. 10.1038/s41467-024-48640-3

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48640-3

Abstract/Summary

Anthropogenically forced changes in global freshwater biodiversity demand more efficient monitoring approaches. Consequently, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is enabling ecosystem-scale biodiversity assessment, yet the appropriate spatio-temporal resolution of robust biodiversity assessment remains ambiguous. Here, using intensive, spatio-temporal eDNA sampling across space (five rivers in Europe and North America, with an upper range of 20–35 km between samples), time (19 timepoints between 2017 and 2018) and environmental conditions (river flow, pH, conductivity, temperature and rainfall), we characterise the resolution at which information on diversity across the animal kingdom can be gathered from rivers using eDNA. In space, beta diversity was mainly dictated by turnover, on a scale of tens of kilometres, highlighting that diversity measures are not confounded by eDNA from upstream. Fish communities showed nested assemblages along some rivers, coinciding with habitat use. Across time, seasonal life history events, including salmon and eel migration, were detected. Finally, effects of environmental conditions were taxon-specific, reflecting habitat filtering of communities rather than effects on DNA molecules. We conclude that riverine eDNA metabarcoding can measure biodiversity at spatio-temporal scales relevant to species and community ecology, demonstrating its utility in delivering insights into river community ecology during a time of environmental change.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1038/s41467-024-48640-3
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2041-1723
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	biodiversity, genetic markers
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Data and Information
Related URLs:	Dataset
Date made live:	05 Jun 2024 11:50 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537517

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1038/s41467-024-48640-3

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2041-1723

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

biodiversity, genetic markers