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Cross-ocean patterns and processes in fish biodiversity on coral reefs through the lens of eDNA metabarcoding

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 09:10 authored by Mathon, L, Marques, V, Mouillot, D, Albouy, C, Andrello, M, Baletaud, F, Borrero-Perez, GH, Dejean, T, Graham EdgarGraham Edgar, Grondin, J, Guerin, P-E, Hocde, R, Juhel, J-B, Kadarusman, K, Maire, E, Mariani, G, McLean, M, Polanco F, A, Pouyaud, L, Richard Stuart-SmithRichard Stuart-Smith, Sugeha, HY, Valentini, A, Vigliola, L, Vimono, IB, Pellissier, L, Manel, S
Increasing speed and magnitude of global change threaten the world's biodiversity and particularly coral reef fishes. A better understanding of large-scale patterns and processes on coral reefs is essential to prevent fish biodiversity decline but it requires new monitoring approaches. Here, we use environmental DNA metabarcoding to reconstruct well-known patterns of fish biodiversity on coral reefs and uncover hidden patterns on these highly diverse and threatened ecosystems. We analysed 226 environmental DNA (eDNA) seawater samples from 100 stations in five tropical regions (Caribbean, Central and Southwest Pacific, Coral Triangle and Western Indian Ocean) and compared those to 2047 underwater visual censuses from the Reef Life Survey in 1224 stations. Environmental DNA reveals a higher (16%) fish biodiversity, with 2650 taxa, and 25% more families than underwater visual surveys. By identifying more pelagic, reef-associated and crypto-benthic species, eDNA offers a fresh view on assembly rules across spatial scales. Nevertheless, the reef life survey identified more species than eDNA in 47 shared families, which can be due to incomplete sequence assignment, possibly combined with incomplete detection in the environment, for some species. Combining eDNA metabarcoding and extensive visual census offers novel insights on the spatial organization of the richest marine ecosystems.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Volume

289

Issue

1973

Article number

20220162

Number

20220162

Pagination

1-10

ISSN

0962-8452

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Royal Soc London

Place of publication

6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5Ag

Rights statement

© 2022 The Author(s).

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Marine biodiversity

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