Integrating traditional and innovative monitoring approaches to monitor the marine biodiversity in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean sea)

Marine Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 208, P. 107160 - 107160

Published: April 17, 2025

The Mediterranean Sea, a global biodiversity hotspot, is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, leading to decline in marine and ecosystem services. In response, effective monitoring conservation strategies, including citizen science initiatives, are crucial for understanding mitigating these impacts. This study presents the Marine Adventure Research Education (M.A.R.E.) initiative, which integrates public participation through visual surveys environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. Novel species-specific primers were developed target key species, Risso's dolphin, fin whale, basking shark, loggerhead sea turtle, sperm whale. Over three months, approximately 100 participants contributed detection of endangered striped Tyrrhenian Sea. Thus, eDNA analysis proved be highly sensitive non-invasive method detecting wide range complementing traditional surveys. As matter fact, second most detected species with molecular analyses was an elusive previously underreported region. this suggests that technique might considered promising monitor dolphin distribution

Language: Английский

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Utilizing aquatic environmental DNA to address global biodiversity targets

Published: April 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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Benthic foraminiferal community structure and its response to heavy metals revealed using environmental DNA/RNA metabarcoding in Yueqing Bay, East China Sea

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 217, P. 118126 - 118126

Published: May 9, 2025

Language: Английский

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Comparative evaluation for the performance of environmental DNA and RNA analyses targeting mitochondrial and nuclear genes from ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 196(4)

Published: March 16, 2024

Language: Английский

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Methodological considerations for aqueous environmental RNA collection, preservation, and extraction

Analytical Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 39(10), P. 1711 - 1718

Published: June 16, 2023

Environmental RNA (eRNA) analysis is expected to infer species' physiological information (health status, developmental stage, and environmental stress response) their distribution composition more correctly than DNA (eDNA) analysis. With the prospect of such eRNA applications, there an increasing need for technological development efficient detection because its physicochemical instability. The present study conducted a series aquarium experiments using zebrafish (Danio rerio) validated methodologies capture, preservation, extraction in water sample. In experiment, approximately 1.5-fold increase lysis buffer volume resulted sixfold target concentration. capture although GF/F GF/A filters yielded similar concentrations, filter may be capable passing through samples consequently collecting particles, given time required filtration. preservation use stabilization reagent (RNAlater) allowed stably preserving on sample at − 20 even 4 °C 6 days least. Altogether, findings enable improvement availability from field easily preserve without deep-freezing, which will contribute refinement biological monitoring aquatic ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Relative gene expression analysis of catalase in environmental RNA from Japanese medaka exposed to toxic chemicals

Environmental DNA, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(2)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Environmental RNA (eRNA) has the potential as a non‐invasive tool for assessing physiological status of macro‐organisms, yet quantitative method relative gene expression analysis is still underexplored. To bridge this gap, study introduces quantification eRNA, employing PCR (qPCR) to evaluate antioxidant gene, catalase ( cat ), in Japanese medaka Oryzias latipes exposed two toxic chemicals 96 h: chlorpyrifos (CPS) and carbamazepine. Our results showed that, genes frequently used reference tissue or cells conventional correlated with each other. Also, one them elfa ) exhibited less variability, showing its suitability eRNA analyses. Additionally, levels increased increasing CPS concentrations, concentration‐response manner. These suggest promising qPCR applications monitoring an organism's health response environmental changes. However, we observed disparities beta‐actin actb between whole fish body, indicating might have biased origin. Further research needed uncover origin determine limitations applicability domain analysis.

Language: Английский

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Monitoring estuarine fish communities – environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding as a complement to beach seining

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 10, 2024

Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA) metabarcoding offers advantages over physical capture for identifying and quantifying animals in monitoring programs. In this study, the fish community was sampled at three stations (inner, middle, outer estuary) estuaries August 2020, four June 2021 (Prince Edward Island, Canada) using both beach seining eDNA metabarcoding. Two 12S primer sets, 12S-160 12S-248F, with different amplicon lengths, yielded similar results. consistently detected species captured by 186 co-located seines revealed additional species. It also monthly (June–August), interannual (2020–2021), spatial shifts community, distinguishing separated as little 0.4 km. Positive correlations existed between reads captures. These findings suggest complements methods characterizing nearshore communities Prince Island’s estuaries. While techniques lack certain population parameter information provided methods, such size, sex, age structure, they offer a more comprehensive diversity assessment presence–abundance insights, especially inaccessible environments.

Language: Английский

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Environmental DNA reveals fine‐scale spatial and temporal variation of marine mammals and their prey species in a Scottish marine protected area

Environmental DNA, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(4)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Marine mammal foraging grounds are popular focal points for marine protected area (MPA) implementation, despite being temporally dynamic, requiring continuous monitoring to infer prey availability and abundance. distributions assumed be driven by their in areas, but limited understanding of often prevents us from exploring how shifting impacts both seasonal long‐term distributions. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding could enhance the habitat use relation through simultaneous both. However, eDNA applications focused on mammals or predator–prey dynamics have been date. In this study, we assess spatiotemporal changes distribution abundance cetaceans, minke whales ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata ), bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus ) harbor porpoises Phocoena phocoena key species a newly established MPA, employing metabarcoding. We recovered 105 molecular operational taxonomic units (OTUs) vertebrates using two primer sets targeting 12S 16S genes, along with 112 OTUs broader eukaryotic set 18S rRNA. Overall, forage fish species, sandeels clupeids, were most abundant teleost fishes detected, although varied distance shore. also found clear spatial partitioning between coastal more pelagic porpoises, paralleling main species. Other conservation interest detected including critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus invasive pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha ). This study demonstrates application detect trends occurrence cetacean predators prey, furthering our fine‐scale within MPAs. Future improve ability predict climate‐induced shifts rapid responses appropriate management actions.

Language: Английский

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Can environmental DNA be used within pest insect agricultural biosecurity? Detecting khapra beetle within stored rice

Environmental DNA, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(4)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently emerged as an effective tool for invasive species biosecurity. We explored the use of eDNA detection khapra beetle ( Trogoderma granarium , Everts 1898), insect cereal grains and other food products that a high global economic impact. developed novel method aggregating deposited in stored grain entails washing sample rice, filtering sample, detecting trace using standard qPCR workflow. To explore performance this method, we raised 500 larvae within g rice over 14‐day period then removed them. used “spiked” to create range simulated densities larvae. This lab approach mimics conditions are comparable field ~1.4 180 beetles per 50 kg (1/8 16 spiked 100 clean rice), assuming is uniformly distributed rice. detected from all density levels tested. Logistic models revealed amounts equivalent what left by ~1 larva container can be with 85% >97% certainty, depending on number technical replicates run sample. Based model, estimated one where distributed, single six would sufficient >99% certain was free (95% credible intervals: 97.7%–100%). Our results suggest surveys may useful cost‐effective, first‐step provide means map relative magnitude transport pathways, informing allocation conventional biosecurity inspection efforts.

Language: Английский

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Research horizons for invasive marine species detection with eDNA/eRNA

Biological Invasions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 3715 - 3731

Published: July 24, 2024

Abstract The global marine ecosystem is changing rapidly as the result of biogeochemical cycles and structure being altered by industrial civilization. Invasive species (IMS) are one most damaging regional consequences human activity, easily attributable to specific processes. This makes IMS introduction tractable threats for management appropriate policies. Once established, a different set policies required either restrict spread, or attempt local eradication. key tool damage mitigation rapid, widely deployable detection. Environmental Nucleic Acids (eNA), combining environmental DNA (eDNA) RNA (eRNA) analyses, have emerged valuable tools sensitive, cost-effective readily detection IMS. Methods eNA still developed through widespread active research community, so identifying limitations current processes will help prioritise eNA-based research. We analysed synthesised opinions expert managers researchers in Australia New Zealand about knowledge gaps needs synthesis was placed context with literature on what technologies currently providing an tool; problems exist technology; could be done improve this general approach. Our analyses produced list priorities that chart path towards best possible systems eNA.

Language: Английский

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