EDNA metabarcoding shows highly diverse but distinct shallow, mid-water, and deep-water eukaryotic communities within a marine biodiversity hotspot.

ABSTRACT: As the impact of human activities continues to move beyond shallow coastal waters into deeper ocean layers, it is fundamental to describe how diverse and distinct the eukaryotic assemblages from the deep layers are compared to shallow ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a molecular tool that can overcome many logistical barriers in exploring remote deep ocean areas. We analyzed shallow water samples (<30 m) collected via SCUBA diving and adjacent deeper samples (mid-water 30-150 m, deep-water >200 m) obtained with Niskin samplers within 16 locations in a recognized hotspot of marine biodiversity (Gulf of California, Mexico). We sequenced an eDNA metabarcoding library targeting a fragment of the COI gene of eukaryotes. We demonstrated that the diversity of oper

SUBMITTER: Cerrillo-Espinosa P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12024446 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature