Environmental DNA Metabarcoding in Marine Ecosystems: Global Advances, Methodological Challenges, and Applications in the MENA Region.

ABSTRACT: Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has transformed marine biodiversity monitoring by allowing non-invasive, cost-effective detection of species with high resolution across diverse marine habitats. A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Qatar University Library databases. Relevant peer-reviewed publications were screened and selected based on predefined inclusion criteria to ensure comprehensive coverage of studies. This review synthesizes advances in global and regional eDNA applications, emphasizing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which faces unique environmental extremes, high endemism, and significant data gaps. eDNA metabarcoding often outperforms traditional methods under comparable sampling effort to traditional surveys

SUBMITTER: Sawh SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12649856 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature