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Wilkinson SP, Gault AA, Welsh SA, Smith JP, David BO, Hicks AS, Fake DR, Suren AM, Shaffer MR, Jarman SN, Bunce M. TICI: a taxon-independent community index for eDNA-based ecological health assessment. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16963. [PMID: 38426140 PMCID: PMC10903356 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Global biodiversity is declining at an ever-increasing rate. Yet effective policies to mitigate or reverse these declines require ecosystem condition data that are rarely available. Morphology-based bioassessment methods are difficult to scale, limited in scope, suffer prohibitive costs, require skilled taxonomists, and can be applied inconsistently between practitioners. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a powerful, reproducible and scalable solution that can survey across the tree-of-life with relatively low cost and minimal expertise for sample collection. However, there remains a need to condense the complex, multidimensional community information into simple, interpretable metrics of ecological health for environmental management purposes. We developed a riverine taxon-independent community index (TICI) that objectively assigns indicator values to amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), and significantly improves the statistical power and utility of eDNA-based bioassessments. The TICI model training step uses the Chessman iterative learning algorithm to assign health indicator scores to a large number of ASVs that are commonly encountered across a wide geographic range. New sites can then be evaluated for ecological health by averaging the indicator value of the ASVs present at the site. We trained a TICI model on an eDNA dataset from 53 well-studied riverine monitoring sites across New Zealand, each sampled with a high level of biological replication (n = 16). Eight short-amplicon metabarcoding assays were used to generate data from a broad taxonomic range, including bacteria, microeukaryotes, fungi, plants, and animals. Site-specific TICI scores were strongly correlated with historical stream condition scores from macroinvertebrate assessments (macroinvertebrate community index or MCI; R2 = 0.82), and TICI variation between sample replicates was minimal (CV = 0.013). Taken together, this demonstrates the potential for taxon-independent eDNA analysis to provide a reliable, robust and low-cost assessment of ecological health that is accessible to environmental managers, decision makers, and the wider community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun P. Wilkinson
- Wilderlab NZ Ltd., Wellington, New Zealand
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | | | - Joshua P. Smith
- School of Science, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
- Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
| | - Bruno O. David
- Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
| | - Andy S. Hicks
- Ministry for the Environment, Wellington, New Zealand
- Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
| | - Daniel R. Fake
- Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
| | - Alastair M. Suren
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
| | - Megan R. Shaffer
- School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Simon N. Jarman
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Bunce
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
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2
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Stein ED, Jerde CL, Allan EA, Sepulveda AJ, Abbott CL, Baerwald MR, Darling J, Goodwin KD, Meyer RS, Timmers MA, Thielen PM. Critical considerations for communicating environmental DNA science. ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2024; 6:1-12. [PMID: 38784600 PMCID: PMC11110536 DOI: 10.1002/edn3.472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The economic and methodological efficiencies of environmental DNA (eDNA) based survey approaches provide an unprecedented opportunity to assess and monitor aquatic environments. However, instances of inadequate communication from the scientific community about confidence levels, knowledge gaps, reliability, and appropriate parameters of eDNA-based methods have hindered their uptake in environmental monitoring programs and, in some cases, has created misperceptions or doubts in the management community. To help remedy this situation, scientists convened a session at the Second National Marine eDNA Workshop to discuss strategies for improving communications with managers. These include articulating the readiness of different eDNA applications, highlighting the strengths and limitations of eDNA tools for various applications or use cases, communicating uncertainties associated with specified uses transparently, and avoiding the exaggeration of exploratory and preliminary findings. Several key messages regarding implementation, limitations, and relationship to existing methods were prioritized. To be inclusive of the diverse managers, practitioners, and researchers, we and the other workshop participants propose the development of communication workflow plans, using RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) charts to clarify the roles of all pertinent individuals and parties and to minimize the chance for miscommunications. We also propose developing decision support tools such as Structured Decision-Making (SDM) to help balance the benefits of eDNA sampling with the inherent uncertainty, and developing an eDNA readiness scale to articulate the technological readiness of eDNA approaches for specific applications. These strategies will increase clarity and consistency regarding our understanding of the utility of eDNA-based methods, improve transparency, foster a common vision for confidently applying eDNA approaches, and enhance their benefit to the monitoring and assessment community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Stein
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, California, USA
| | - Christopher L Jerde
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | | | - Adam J Sepulveda
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | | | - Melinda R Baerwald
- Division of Integrated Science and Engineering, California Department of Water Resources, West Sacramento, California, USA
| | - John Darling
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Genomics Branch, Watershed and Ecosystem Characterization Division, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly D Goodwin
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Ocean Exploration, Stationed at SWFSC/NMFS, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Rachel S Meyer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Molly A Timmers
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Peter M Thielen
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA
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Duarte S, Simões L, Costa FO. Current status and topical issues on the use of eDNA-based targeted detection of rare animal species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166675. [PMID: 37647964 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Animal detection through DNA present in environmental samples (eDNA) is a valuable tool for detecting rare species, that are difficult to observe and monitor. eDNA-based tools are underpinned by molecular evolutionary principles, key to devising tools to efficiently single out a targeted species from an environmental sample. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the use of eDNA-based methods for the detection of targeted animal species, such as rare, endangered, or invasive species, through the analysis of 549 publications (2008-2022). Aquatic ecosystems have been the most surveyed, in particular, freshwaters (74 %), and to a less extent marine (14 %) and terrestrial systems (10 %). Vertebrates, in particular, fish (38 %), and endangered species, have been the focus of most of these studies, and Cytb and COI are the most employed markers. Among invertebrates, assays have been mainly designed for Mollusca and Crustacea species (21 %), in particular, to target invasive species, and COI the most employed marker. Targeted molecular approaches, in particular qPCR, have been the most adopted (75 %), while eDNA metabarcoding has been rarely used to target single or few species (approx. 6 %). However, less attention has been given in these studies to the effects of environmental factors on the amount of shed DNA, the differential amount of shed DNA among species, or the sensitivity of the markers developed, which may impact the design of the assays, particularly to warrant the required detection level and avoid false negatives and positives. The accuracy of the assays will also depend on the availability of genetic data and vouchered tissue or DNA samples from closely related species to assess both marker and primers' specificity. In addition, eDNA-based assays developed for a particular species may have to be refined for use in a new geographic area taking into account site-specific populations, as well as any intraspecific variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Luara Simões
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Filipe O Costa
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) and ARNET-Aquatic Research Network, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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4
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Rees HC, Cousins ME, Baker CA, Maddison BC. A qPCR assay for the rapid and specific detection of Shining ram's-horn snail (Segmentina nitida) eDNA from Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, UK. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288267. [PMID: 37967121 PMCID: PMC10651049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Segmentina nitida Müller 1774 is a freshwater snail which was formerly widespread throughout England and south Wales. Since the 1840s it has seen a rapid decline in its range which has been attributed to deteriorating water quality due to nutrient enrichment, lowering of water tables and over-management of the ditches in which it resides. S. nitida has therefore been identified as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) priority species which recommends further research for its conservation. Here we have developed a Taqman based qPCR eDNA assay for the detection of S. nitida at the Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve and compared the results with a manual survey of the ditches at this location. 32 ditches were surveyed in November 2020 (22 at Stodmarsh) and February 2021 (10 outside the known range of S.nitida). Our eDNA analysis exhibited an observed percentage agreement of 84% with a kappa coefficient of agreement between manual and eDNA surveys of 0.56 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.92). Three ditches determined to be negative for S. nitida by eDNA analysis were manual survey positive, and a further two ditches that were negative by manual survey were positive by eDNA analysis revealing the potential for improved overall detection rates using a combination of manual and eDNA methodologies. eDNA analysis could therefore augment manual survey techniques for S. nitida as a relatively quick and inexpensive tool for collecting presence and distribution data that could be used to inform manual surveys and management of ditches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen C. Rees
- ADAS Biotechnology, Beeston, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Waters T, Gold Z, Obaza A, Ambrose RF, Eagle RA. Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals distinct fish assemblages supported by seagrass (Zostera marina and Zostera pacifica) beds in different geographic settings in Southern California. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286228. [PMID: 37796915 PMCID: PMC10553302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Seagrass beds are disappearing at a record pace despite their known value to our oceans and coastal communities. Simultaneously, our coastlines are under the constant pressure of climate change which is impacting their chemical, physical and biological characteristics. It is thus pertinent to evaluate and record habitat use so we can understand how these different environments contribute to local biodiversity. This study evaluates the assemblages of fish found at five Zostera beds in Southern California using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. eDNA is a powerful biodiversity monitoring tool that offers key advantages to conventional monitoring. Results from our eDNA study found 78 species of fish that inhabit these five beds around Southern California representing embayment, open coastal mainland and open coastal island settings. While each bed had the same average number of species found throughout the year, the composition of these fish assemblages was strongly site dependent. There were 35 fish that were found at both open coast and embayment seagrass beds, while embayment seagrass sites had 20 unique fish and open coast sites had 23 unique fish. These results demonstrate that seagrass fish assemblages are heterogenous based on their geographic positioning and that marine managers must take this into account for holistic conservation and restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner Waters
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Center for Diverse Leadership in Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Zachary Gold
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Adam Obaza
- Paua Marine Research Group, Long Beach, CA, United States of America
| | - Richard F. Ambrose
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karen Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Eagle
- Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Center for Diverse Leadership in Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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6
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Rees HC, Measures GH, Kane SD, Maddison BC. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the specific detection of the Chinese mystery snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis) in the UK. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292163. [PMID: 37796948 PMCID: PMC10553251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cipangopaludina chinensis Gray 1833 is an East Asian freshwater snail and invasive species in many parts of the world (Global Invasive Species Database, 2022). Within the UK, it was first found at the Pevensey Levels, Sussex, and has since been reported at a second site at Southampton Common, Hampshire. Both sites are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their wildlife importance. Although the impacts of this species within the UK have not yet been investigated several exotic parasites of the snail have been reported and research suggests that its presence can negatively impact native snail species. This is especially important at the Pevensey Levels due to the presence of the rare freshwater mollusc Anisus vorticulus (Little Whirlpool Rams's-horn snail). Here, we have developed a qPCR-based eDNA assay for the detection of C. chinensis and compared water samples tested for eDNA with results from manual survey of the ditches at the Pevensey Levels. Our eDNA analysis exhibited an overall observed percentage agreement of 80% with a kappa coefficient of agreement between manual and eDNA surveys of 0.59 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.88). Some samples which were qPCR negative for C. chinensis were positive by manual survey, and vice versa revealing the potential for improved overall detection rates when using a combination of manual and eDNA methodologies. eDNA analysis can therefore augment manual survey techniques for C. chinensis as a relatively quick and inexpensive tool for collecting presence and distribution data that could be used to inform further manual surveys and control measures within the ditches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen C. Rees
- Biotechnology, RSK ADAS Ltd, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin H. Measures
- Species Recovery and Reintroductions Team, Natural England, Peterborough, United Kingdom
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7
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Porter TM, Smenderovac E, Morris D, Venier L. All boreal forest successional stages needed to maintain the full suite of soil biodiversity, community composition, and function following wildfire. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7978. [PMID: 37198223 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30732-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildfire is a natural disturbance in boreal forest systems that has been predicted to increase in frequency, intensity, and extent due to climate change. Most studies tend to assess the recovery of one component of the community at a time but here we use DNA metabarcoding to simultaneously monitor soil bacteria, fungi, and arthropods along an 85-year chronosequence following wildfire in jack pine-dominated ecosites. We describe soil successional and community assembly processes to better inform sustainable forest management practices. Soil taxa showed different recovery trajectories following wildfire. Bacteria shared a large core community across stand development stages (~ 95-97% of their unique sequences) and appeared to recover relatively quickly by crown closure. By comparison fungi and arthropods shared smaller core communities (64-77% and 68-69%, respectively) and each stage appeared to support unique biodiversity. We show the importance of maintaining a mosaic ecosystem that represents each stand development stage to maintain the full suite of biodiversity in soils following wildfire, especially for fungi and arthropods. These results will provide a useful baseline for comparison when assessing the effects of human disturbance such as harvest or for assessing the effects of more frequent wildfire events due to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresita M Porter
- Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.
- University of Guelph, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, Guelph, ON, Canada.
| | - Emily Smenderovac
- Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
| | - Dave Morris
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Lisa Venier
- Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
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Walker FM, Sanchez DE, Froehlich EM, Federman EL, Lyman JA, Owens M, Lear K. Endangered Nectar-Feeding Bat Detected by Environmental DNA on Flowers. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223075. [PMID: 36428303 PMCID: PMC9686659 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptonycteris nivalis (the Mexican long-nosed bat) is an endangered nectar-feeding bat species that follows "nectar corridors" as it migrates from Mexico to the southwestern United States. Locating these nectar corridors is key to their conservation and may be possible using environmental DNA (eDNA) from these bats. Hence, we developed and tested DNA metabarcoding and qPCR eDNA assays to determine whether L. nivalis could be detected by sampling the agave flowers on which it feeds. We sampled plants with known bat visitations in the Sierra Madre Oriental in Laguna de Sanchez (LS), Nuevo León, Mexico, and in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, TX, USA (CB). A total of 13 samples included both swabs of agave umbels and cuttings of individual flowers. DNA metabarcoding was performed as a PCR multiplex that targeted bats (SFF-COI), arthropods (ANML-COI), and plants (ITS2 and rbcL). We targeted arthropods and plants in parallel with bats because future metabarcoding studies may wish to examine all the pollinators and plants within the nectar corridor. We developed and tested the sensitivity and specificity of two qPCR assays. We found that both DNA metabarcoding and qPCR were highly successful at detecting L. nivalis (11 of 13 for DNA metabarcoding and 12 of 13 for qPCR). Swabs and flower cuttings and both qPCR assays detected the species over four replicates. We suggest that L. nivalis leaves substantial DNA behind as it forages for nectar. We also suggest that future studies examine the time since sampling to determine its effect on detection success. The DNA metabarcoding multiplex will be useful for parallel questions regarding pollination ecology, while, with further testing, the qPCR assays will be effective for large-scale sampling for the detection of migration corridors and foraging areas. This work may be relevant to other nectar-feeding bat species, which can likely be detected with similar methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith M. Walker
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniel E. Sanchez
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Emma M. Froehlich
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Emma L. Federman
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Jacque A. Lyman
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Meagan Owens
- Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab, School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Kristen Lear
- Integrative Conservation and Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Bat Conservation International, Austin, TX 78746, USA
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Environmental DNA Metabarcoding: A Novel Contrivance for Documenting Terrestrial Biodiversity. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091297. [PMID: 36138776 PMCID: PMC9495823 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The innovative concept of environmental DNA has found its foot in aquatic ecosystems but remains an unexplored area of research concerning terrestrial ecosystems. When making management choices, it is important to understand the rate of eDNA degradation, the persistence of DNA in terrestrial habitats, and the variables affecting eDNA detectability for a target species. Therefore an attempt has been made to provide comprehensive information regarding the exertion of eDNA in terrestrial ecosystems from 2012 to 2022. The information provided will assist ecologists, researchers and decision-makers in developing a holistic understanding of environmental DNA and its applicability as a biodiversity monitoring contrivance. Abstract The dearth of cardinal data on species presence, dispersion, abundance, and habitat prerequisites, besides the threats impeded by escalating human pressure has enormously affected biodiversity conservation. The innovative concept of eDNA, has been introduced as a way of overcoming many of the difficulties of rigorous conventional investigations, and is hence becoming a prominent and novel method for assessing biodiversity. Recently the demand for eDNA in ecology and conservation has expanded exceedingly, despite the lack of coordinated development in appreciation of its strengths and limitations. Therefore it is pertinent and indispensable to evaluate the extent and significance of eDNA-based investigations in terrestrial habitats and to classify and recognize the critical considerations that need to be accounted before using such an approach. Presented here is a brief review to summarize the prospects and constraints of utilizing eDNA in terrestrial ecosystems, which has not been explored and exploited in greater depth and detail in such ecosystems. Given these obstacles, we focused primarily on compiling the most current research findings from journals accessible in eDNA analysis that discuss terrestrial ecosystems (2012–2022). In the current evaluation, we also review advancements and limitations related to the eDNA technique.
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Hajibabaei M. Demystifying eDNA validation. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:826-828. [PMID: 35902292 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
As environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches gain momentum for biodiversity analysis, validation becomes a key consideration. I focus on four facets of eDNA validation. Validation through technical processes, legal use, official statements, and 'good enough' scenarios can advance the field to aid societal issues such as climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hajibabaei
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics & Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1; Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications, eDNAtec Inc., 14 International Place Unit 103, St. John's, NL, Canada A1A 0R6.
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11
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Lamb PD, Fonseca VG, Maxwell DL, Nnanatu C. Systematic review and meta-analysis: water type and temperature affect environmental DNA decay. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2494-2505. [PMID: 35510730 PMCID: PMC9541873 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used in a variety of ecological studies and management applications. The rate at which eDNA decays has been widely studied but at present it is difficult to disentangle study‐specific effects from factors that universally affect eDNA degradation. To address this, a systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted on aquatic eDNA studies. Analysis revealed eDNA decayed faster at higher temperatures and in marine environments (as opposed to freshwater). DNA type (mitochondrial or nuclear) and fragment length did not affect eDNA decay rate, although a preference for <200 bp sequences in the available literature means this relationship was not assessed with longer sequences (e.g. >800 bp). At present, factors such as ultraviolet light, pH, and microbial load lacked sufficient studies to feature in the meta‐analysis. Moving forward, we advocate researching these factors to further refine our understanding of eDNA decay in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip D Lamb
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - Vera G Fonseca
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UB, United Kingdom
| | - David L Maxwell
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - Chibuzor Nnanatu
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, United Kingdom.,Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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12
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Evaluating eDNA for Use within Marine Environmental Impact Assessments. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10030375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In this review, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) within Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is evaluated. EIA documents provide information required by regulators to evaluate the potential impact of a development project. Currently eDNA is being incorporated into biodiversity assessments as a complementary method for detecting rare, endangered or invasive species. However, questions have been raised regarding the maturity of the field and the suitability of eDNA information as evidence for EIA. Several key issues are identified for eDNA information within a generic EIA framework for marine environments. First, it is challenging to define the sampling unit and optimal sampling strategy for eDNA with respect to the project area and potential impact receptor. Second, eDNA assay validation protocols are preliminary at this time. Third, there are statistical issues around the probability of obtaining both false positives (identification of taxa that are not present) and false negatives (non-detection of taxa that are present) in results. At a minimum, an EIA must quantify the uncertainty in presence/absence estimates by combining series of Bernoulli trials with ad hoc occupancy models. Finally, the fate and transport of DNA fragments is largely unknown in environmental systems. Shedding dynamics, biogeochemical and physical processes that influence DNA fragments must be better understood to be able to link an eDNA signal with the receptor’s state. The biggest challenge is that eDNA is a proxy for the receptor and not a direct measure of presence. Nonetheless, as more actors enter the field, technological solutions are likely to emerge for these issues. Environmental DNA already shows great promise for baseline descriptions of the presence of species surrounding a project and can aid in the identification of potential receptors for EIA monitoring using other methods.
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Clarke LJ, Suter L, Deagle BE, Polanowski AM, Terauds A, Johnstone GJ, Stark JS. Environmental DNA metabarcoding for monitoring metazoan biodiversity in Antarctic nearshore ecosystems. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12458. [PMID: 34820189 PMCID: PMC8601059 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Antarctic benthic ecosystems support high biodiversity but their characterization is limited to a few well-studied areas, due to the extreme environment and remoteness making access and sampling difficult. Our aim was to compare water and sediment as sources of environmental DNA (eDNA) to better characterise Antarctic benthic communities and further develop practical approaches for DNA-based biodiversity assessment in remote environments. We used a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) metabarcoding approach to characterise metazoan communities in 26 nearshore sites across 12 locations in the Vestfold Hills (East Antarctica) based on DNA extracted from either sediment cores or filtered seawater. We detected a total of 99 metazoan species from 12 phyla across 26 sites, with similar numbers of species detected in sediment and water eDNA samples. However, significantly different communities were detected in the two sample types at sites where both were collected (i.e., where paired samples were available). For example, nematodes and echinoderms were more likely to be detected exclusively in sediment and water eDNA samples, respectively. eDNA from water and sediment core samples are complementary sample types, with epifauna more likely to be detected in water column samples and infauna in sediment. More reference DNA sequences are needed for infauna/meiofauna to increase the proportion of sequences and number of taxa that can be identified. Developing a better understanding of the temporal and spatial dynamics of eDNA at low temperatures would also aid interpretation of eDNA signals from polar environments. Our results provide a preliminary scan of benthic metazoan communities in the Vestfold Hills, with additional markers required to provide a comprehensive biodiversity survey. However, our study demonstrates the choice of sample type for eDNA studies of benthic ecosystems (sediment, water or both) needs to be carefully considered in light of the research or monitoring question of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence J Clarke
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia.,Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Leonie Suter
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Bruce E Deagle
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Aleks Terauds
- Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
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Carvalho CS, de Oliveira ME, Rodriguez-Castro KG, Saranholi BH, Galetti PM. Efficiency of eDNA and iDNA in assessing vertebrate diversity and its abundance. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1262-1273. [PMID: 34724330 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) and invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) have been increasingly recognized as powerful tools for biodiversity assessment and conservation management. However, eDNA/iDNA efficiency for vertebrate diversity assessment remains uncertain, and comparisons to conventional methods are still rare. Through a meta-analysis of previously published vertebrate diversity surveys, we compared the efficiency of eDNA/iDNA against conventional methods across several types of samplers, vertebrate groups, and locations (tropical vs. temperate zones). We also assess eDNA/iDNA efficiency to estimate relative abundance or biomass over different molecular methods (qPCR and metabarcoding) and type of experiment (in the laboratory or in the field). We showed that for water sampler, fish as a target species, and studies achieved in temperate zones, eDNA presents lower risk of not detecting a species or a site with a target species than conventional methods. These results show that eDNA is an efficient tool to assess fish diversity. Moreover, eDNA data presents positive correlation with fish abundance or biomass. However, such correlation was higher in laboratory experiments than in the field. For the other samplers, vertebrate groups, and in tropical zones we were not able to draw general conclusion, highlighting the urgency of conducting more comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina S Carvalho
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.,Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | | | - Karen Giselle Rodriguez-Castro
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.,Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia
| | - Bruno H Saranholi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Pedro M Galetti
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Sepulveda AJ, Hoegh A, Gage JA, Caldwell Eldridge SL, Birch JM, Stratton C, Hutchins PR, Barnhart EP. Integrating Environmental DNA Results With Diverse Data Sets to Improve Biosurveillance of River Health. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.620715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomous, robotic environmental (e)DNA samplers now make it possible for biological observations to match the scale and quality of abiotic measurements collected by automated sensor networks. Merging these automated data streams may allow for improved insight into biotic responses to environmental change and stressors. Here, we merged eDNA data collected by robotic samplers installed at three U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages with gridded daily weather data, and daily water quality and quantity data into a cloud-hosted database. The eDNA targets were a rare fish parasite and a more common salmonid fish. We then used computationally expedient Bayesian hierarchical occupancy models to evaluate associations between abiotic conditions and eDNA detections and to simulate how uncertainty in result interpretation changes with the frequency of autonomous robotic eDNA sample collection. We developed scripts to automate data merging, cleaning and analysis steps into a chained-step, workflow. We found that inclusion of abiotic covariates only provided improved insight for the more common salmonid fish since its DNA was more frequently detected. Rare fish parasite DNA was infrequently detected, which caused occupancy parameter estimates and covariate associations to have high uncertainty. Our simulations found that collecting samples at least once per day resulted in more detections and less parameter uncertainty than less frequent sampling. Our occupancy and simulation results together demonstrate the advantages of robotic eDNA samplers and how these samples can be combined with easy to acquire, publicly available data to foster real-time biosurveillance and forecasting.
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Penaluna BE, Allen JM, Arismendi I, Levi T, Garcia TS, Walter JK. Better boundaries: identifying the upper extent of fish distributions in forested streams using eDNA and electrofishing. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E. Penaluna
- Pacific Northwest Research Station U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 3200 SW Jefferson Way Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Jennifer M. Allen
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Ivan Arismendi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Tiffany S. Garcia
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Oregon State University 104 Nash Hall Corvallis Oregon97331USA
| | - Jason K. Walter
- Weyerhaeuser Centralia Research Center 505 North Pearl Street Centralia Washington98531USA
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Duarte S, Vieira PE, Lavrador AS, Costa FO. Status and prospects of marine NIS detection and monitoring through (e)DNA metabarcoding. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141729. [PMID: 32889465 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In coastal ecosystems, non-indigenous species (NIS) are recognized as a major threat to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and socio-economic activities. Here we present a systematic review on the use of metabarcoding for NIS surveillance in marine and coastal ecosystems, through the analysis of 42 publications. Metabarcoding has been mainly applied to environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples, but also to DNA extracted from bulk organismal samples. DNA extraction kits have been widely used and the 18S rRNA and the COI genes the most employed markers, but less than half of the studies targeted more than one marker loci. The Illumina MiSeq platform has been used in >50% of the publications. Current weaknesses include potential occurrence of false negatives due to the primer-biased or faulty DNA amplification and the incompleteness of reference libraries. This is particularly concerning in the case of NIS surveillance, where proficiency in species level detection is critical. Until these weaknesses are resolved, ideally NIS metabarcoding should be supported by complementary approaches, such as morphological analysis or more targeted molecular approaches (e.g. qPCR, ddPCR). Even so, metabarcoding has already proved to be a highly sensitive tool to detect small organisms or undifferentiated life stages across a wide taxonomic range. In addition, it also seems to be very effective in ballast water management and to improve the spatial and temporal sampling frequency of NIS surveillance in marine and coastal ecosystems. Although specific protocols may be required for species-specific NIS detection, for general monitoring it would be vital to settle on a standard protocol able to generate comparable results among surveillance campaigns and regions of the globe, seeking the best approach for detecting the broadest range of species, while minimizing the chances of a false positive or negative detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duarte
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - Pedro E Vieira
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana S Lavrador
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Filipe O Costa
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Compson ZG, McClenaghan B, Singer GAC, Fahner NA, Hajibabaei M. Metabarcoding From Microbes to Mammals: Comprehensive Bioassessment on a Global Scale. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.581835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Global biodiversity loss is unprecedented, and threats to existing biodiversity are growing. Given pervasive global change, a major challenge facing resource managers is a lack of scalable tools to rapidly and consistently measure Earth's biodiversity. Environmental genomic tools provide some hope in the face of this crisis, and DNA metabarcoding, in particular, is a powerful approach for biodiversity assessment at large spatial scales. However, metabarcoding studies are variable in their taxonomic, temporal, or spatial scope, investigating individual species, specific taxonomic groups, or targeted communities at local or regional scales. With the advent of modern, ultra-high throughput sequencing platforms, conducting deep sequencing metabarcoding surveys with multiple DNA markers will enhance the breadth of biodiversity coverage, enabling comprehensive, rapid bioassessment of all the organisms in a sample. Here, we report on a systematic literature review of 1,563 articles published about DNA metabarcoding and summarize how this approach is rapidly revolutionizing global bioassessment efforts. Specifically, we quantify the stakeholders using DNA metabarcoding, the dominant applications of this technology, and the taxonomic groups assessed in these studies. We show that while DNA metabarcoding has reached global coverage, few studies deliver on its promise of near-comprehensive biodiversity assessment. We then outline how DNA metabarcoding can help us move toward real-time, global bioassessment, illustrating how different stakeholders could benefit from DNA metabarcoding. Next, we address barriers to widespread adoption of DNA metabarcoding, highlighting the need for standardized sampling protocols, experts and computational resources to handle the deluge of genomic data, and standardized, open-source bioinformatic pipelines. Finally, we explore how technological and scientific advances will realize the promise of total biodiversity assessment in a sample—from microbes to mammals—and unlock the rich information genomics exposes, opening new possibilities for merging whole-system DNA metabarcoding with (1) abundance and biomass quantification, (2) advanced modeling, such as species occupancy models, to improve species detection, (3) population genetics, (4) phylogenetics, and (5) food web and functional gene analysis. While many challenges need to be addressed to facilitate widespread adoption of environmental genomic approaches, concurrent scientific and technological advances will usher in methods to supplement existing bioassessment tools reliant on morphological and abiotic data. This expanded toolbox will help ensure that the best tool is used for the job and enable exciting integrative techniques that capitalize on multiple tools. Collectively, these new approaches will aid in addressing the global biodiversity crisis we now face.
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Porter TM, Hajibabaei M. Putting COI Metabarcoding in Context: The Utility of Exact Sequence Variants (ESVs) in Biodiversity Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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