Reproduction influences seasonal eDNA variation in a temperate marine fish community

Collins, Rupert A.; Baillie, CJP; Halliday, Nicholas C.; Rainbird, Sophie; Sims, David W.; Mariani, Stefano; Genner, Martin J.

Abstract

Many factors influence how environmental DNA (eDNA) abundance varies in natural environments. One of the least studied contributors to eDNA variation is that of reproduction. Marine organisms that broadcast spawn are expected to shed increased quantities of DNA in association with the release of gametes and the elevated levels of activity associated with reproduction. To test this hypothesis at the community level, we present a year‐long eDNA time‐series of a temperate sea‐shelf fish assemblage combined with adult fish and ichthyoplankton abundance data. Our results show that eDNA is associated with species abundance estimated by conventional fish surveys at all life stages (adult, larval, and egg), and was on average 2.3‐fold more abundant during predicted fish reproductive periods.

Citation

Collins, R. A., Baillie, C., Halliday, N. C., Rainbird, S., Sims, D. W., Mariani, S., & Genner, M. J. (in press). Reproduction influences seasonal eDNA variation in a temperate marine fish community. Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 7(5), 443-449. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10271

• Journal Article Type: Letter
• Acceptance Date: Jun 29, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 3, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 11, 2022
• Journal: Limnology and Oceanography Letters
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 443-449
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10271
• Keywords: Aquatic Science, Oceanography
• Related Public URLs: https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10271
• Additional Information: Projects : NE/N005759/1;NE/N005937/1