Persistence of environmental DNA in marine systems.

ABSTRACT: As environmental DNA (eDNA) becomes an increasingly valuable resource for marine ecosystem monitoring, understanding variation in its persistence across contrasting environments is critical. Here, we quantify the breakdown of macrobial eDNA over a spatio-temporal axis of locally extreme conditions, varying from ocean-influenced offshore to urban-inshore, and between winter and summer. We report that eDNA degrades 1.6 times faster in the inshore environment than the offshore environment, but contrary to expectation we find no difference over season. Analysis of environmental covariables show a spatial gradient of salinity and a temporal gradient of pH, with salinity-or the biotic correlates thereof-most important. Based on our estimated inshore eDNA half-life and naturally occurring eDNA co

SUBMITTER: Collins RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6218555 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature