1
|
Múrria C, Wangensteen OS, Somma S, Väisänen L, Fortuño P, Arnedo MA, Prat N. Taxonomic accuracy and complementarity between bulk and eDNA metabarcoding provides an alternative to morphology for biological assessment of freshwater macroinvertebrates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173243. [PMID: 38761946 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173243] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Determining biological status of freshwater ecosystems is critical for ensuring ecosystem health and maintaining associated services to such ecosystems. Freshwater macroinvertebrates respond predictably to environmental disturbances and are widely used in biomonitoring programs. However, many freshwater species are difficult to capture and sort from debris or substrate and morphological identification is challenging, especially larval stages, damaged specimens, or hyperdiverse groups such as Diptera. The advent of high throughput sequencing technologies has enhanced DNA barcoding tools to automatise species identification for whole communities, as metabarcoding is increasingly used to monitor biodiversity. However, recent comparisons have revealed little congruence between morphological and molecular-based identifications. Using broad range universal primers for DNA barcode marker cox1, we compare community composition captured between morphological and molecular-based approaches from different sources - tissue-based (bulk benthic and bulk drift samples) and environmental DNA (eDNA, filtered water) metabarcoding - for samples collected along a gradient of anthropogenic disturbances. For comparability, metabarcoding taxonomic assignments were filtered by taxa included in the standardised national biological metric IBMWP. At the family level, bulk benthic metabarcoding showed the highest congruence with morphology, and the most abundant taxa were captured by all techniques. Richness captured by morphology and bulk benthic metabarcoding decreased along the gradient, whereas richness recorded by eDNA remained constant and increased downstream when sequencing bulk drift. Estimates of biological metrics were higher using molecular than morphological identification. At species level, diversity captured by bulk benthic samples were higher than the other techniques. Importantly, bulk benthic and eDNA metabarcoding captured different and complementary portions of the community - benthic versus water column, respectively - and their combined use is recommended. While bulk benthic metabarcoding can likely replace morphology using similar benthic biological indices, water eDNA will require new metrics because this technique sequences a different portion of the community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cesc Múrria
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Zoological Systematics & Evolution (ZooSysEvo), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Owen S Wangensteen
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Simona Somma
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Leif Väisänen
- Stream Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Pau Fortuño
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Miquel A Arnedo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Zoological Systematics & Evolution (ZooSysEvo), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Narcís Prat
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lu S, Zeng H, Xiong F, Yao M, He S. Advances in environmental DNA monitoring: standardization, automation, and emerging technologies in aquatic ecosystems. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1368-1384. [PMID: 38512561 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2493-5] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, a rapidly advancing technique for assessing biodiversity and ecosystem health, offers a noninvasive approach for detecting and quantifying species from various environmental samples. In this review, a comprehensive overview of current eDNA collection and detection technologies is provided, emphasizing the necessity for standardization and automation in aquatic ecological monitoring. Furthermore, the intricacies of water bodies, from streams to the deep sea, and the associated challenges they pose for eDNA capture and analysis are explored. The paper delineates three primary eDNA survey methods, namely, bringing back water, bringing back filters, and bringing back data, each with specific advantages and constraints in terms of labor, transport, and data acquisition. Additionally, innovations in eDNA sampling equipment, including autonomous drones, subsurface samplers, and in-situ filtration devices, and their applications in monitoring diverse taxa are discussed. Moreover, recent advancements in species-specific detection and eDNA metabarcoding are addressed, highlighting the integration of novel techniques such as CRISPR-Cas and nanopore sequencing that enable precise and rapid detection of biodiversity. The implications of environmental RNA and epigenetic modifications are considered for future applications in providing nuanced ecological data. Lastly, the review stresses the critical role of standardization and automation in enhancing data consistency and comparability for robust long-term biomonitoring. We propose that the amalgamation of these technologies represents a paradigm shift in ecological monitoring, aligning with the urgent call for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suxiang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Honghui Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Fan Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Meng Yao
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Shunping He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.
- Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China.
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Uhlhorn B, Geißler G, Jiricka-Pürrer A. Exploring the uptake of advanced digital technologies in environmental assessment practice - Experiences from Austria and Germany. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 364:121412. [PMID: 38878571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Environmental assessment (EA) evaluates the environmental impacts of proposed projects, plans or policies to inform decision making. While several studies have highlighted the potential and opportunities of digitalisation for EA, few have explored practitioners' perceptions using a mixed methods approach in order to discover concerns and risks identified by EA of novel technological approaches. In addition, this initial exploratory study examines the perception of benefits and contributions to quality and effectiveness of advanced digital approaches, such as the introduction of artificial intelligence, in EA practice. The research process was based on focus group discussions and exploratory interviews with EA consultants, environmental authorities, researchers, environmental associations and NGOs. Relevant technologies were identified from the existing scientific literature and their applicability, benefits and use were discussed in context of real-world experience made by the practitioner. It became evident that the majority of practitioners in the field of EA in Austria and Germany are not familiar with advanced digital approaches and tools. While other planning disciplines are exploiting the potential of advanced digital tools, EA practitioners still share concerns about data quality, security, legal uncertainties, but also skills and know-how. The study identifies a gap and a need for training and confidence building. It aims to contribute to the promotion of inter- & transdisciplinary exchange involving the wider EA community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birthe Uhlhorn
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Landscape, Spatial and Infrastructure Sciences (RALI), Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning (ILEN), Peter Jordan Str. 65, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gesa Geißler
- Technische Universität Berlin, FG Umweltprüfungen, Straße des 17, Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department of Landscape, Spatial and Infrastructure Sciences (RALI), Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning (ILEN), Peter Jordan Str. 65, 1180 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tuliebieke T, Abdullah, Zhang H, Yan R, Li H, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Ahmed I, Li T, Tian X. Exploring the biological diversity and source species of medicinal horseflies through metabarcoding. Gene 2024; 913:148356. [PMID: 38462022 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Horseflies from the Tabanidae family play a significant role in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various health conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, headaches, liver cirrhosis, psoriasis, and hepatic carcinoma. There are 27 species of Tabaninae (Tabanidae) used as medicine, and they showed high morphological similarities with those for which medicinal properties have not been reported. Nonetheless, there have been reports suggesting that medicinal crude drugs sometimes contain irrelevant or false species, impacting the drug's efficacy. In this current study, we collected 14 batches, totaling 13,528 individuals, from various provinces in China. Instead of "classic" DNA barcoding strategy, we employed a high-throughput metabarcoding approach to assess the biological composition of crude drug mixtures derived from horseflies. Our analysis identified 40 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) with similarity percentages ranging from 92% to 100% with 12 previously reported species. Species delimitation methods revealed the presence of 11 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs), with ten belonging to the Tabanus genus and one to Hybomitra. Tabanus sp6 displayed the highest relative abundance, and its ASVs showed close resemblance to Tabanus pleski. Our investigations revealed that the medicinal batches were biologically composed of 6 to 12 species. Some batches contained ASVs that closely resembled species previously associated with false Tabanus species. In conclusion, our findings offer valuable insights into the biological composition of crude drugs derived from horseflies and have the potential to enhance the quality of these traditional medicines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tenukeguli Tuliebieke
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Abdullah
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Huanyu Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Rushan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Tingting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Ibrar Ahmed
- Alpha Genomics Private Limited, Islamabad 45710, Pakistan; Microbiological Analysis Team, Group for Biometrology, Korea Research Institute of Standards Band Science (KRISS), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tianxiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| | - Xiaoxuan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China; Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Li Z, Xu K, Meng M, Xu Y, Ji D, Wang W, Xie C. Environmental heterogeneity caused by large-scale cultivation of Pyropia haitanensis shapes multi-group biodiversity distribution in coastal areas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172692. [PMID: 38663622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172692] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
The response of marine biodiversity to mariculture has long been a research focus in marine ecology. However, the effects of seaweed cultivation on biological community assembly are poorly understood, especially in diverse communities with distinct ecological characteristics. In this study, we used environmental DNA metabarcoding to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of bacterial, protistan, and metazoan diversity, aiming to reveal the mechanisms of community assembly in the Pyropia haitanensis cultivation zone along the Fujian coast, China. We found that, compared with the biological communities in control zones, those in P. haitanensis cultivation zones exhibited stronger geographic distance-decay patterns and displayed more complex and stable network structures. Deterministic processes (environmental selection) played a more important role in the assembly of bacterial, protistan, and metazoan communities in P. haitanensis cultivation zones, especially metazoan communities. Variance partitioning analysis showed that environmental variables made greater contributions to the diversity of the three types of communities within the P. haitanensis cultivation zones than in the control zones. Partial least squares path modeling analysis identified nitrate‑nitrogen (NO3-N), pH, particulate organic carbon (POC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as the key environmental variables affecting biodiversity. Overall, the environmental heterogeneity caused by the large-scale cultivation of P. haitanensis could be the crucial factor influencing the composition and structure of various biological communities. Our results highlight the importance of the responses of multi-group organisms to the cultivation of seaweed, and provide insights into the coexistence patterns of biodiversity at the spatial scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zongtang Li
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China
| | - Kai Xu
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China
| | - Muhan Meng
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China
| | - Dehua Ji
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China
| | - Wenlei Wang
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China.
| | - Chaotian Xie
- Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, China; Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Xiamen, China; Fujian Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Xiamen, China; State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Fisheries College of Jimei University, Ningde 352100, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
DiBattista JD, Fowler AM, Shalders TC, Williams RJ, Wilkinson S. Tree of life metabarcoding can serve as a biotic benchmark for shifting baselines in urbanized estuaries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024:119454. [PMID: 38906450 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Urbanization of estuaries drastically changed existing shorelines and bathymetric contours, in turn modifying habitat for marine foundational species that host critical biodiversity. And yet we lack approaches to characterize a significant fraction of the biota that inhabit these ecosystems on time scales that align with rates of urbanization. Environmental DNA (or eDNA) metabarcoding that combines multiple assays targeting a broad range of taxonomic groups can provide a solution, but we need to determine whether the biological communities it detects ally with different habitats in these changing aquatic environments. In this study, we tested whether tree of life metabarcoding (ToL-metabarcoding) data extracted from filtered seawater samples correlated with four known geomorphic habitat zones across a heavily urbanized estuary (Sydney Harbour, Australia). Using this method, we substantially expanded our knowledge on the composition and spatial distribution of marine biodiversity across the tree of life in Sydney Harbour, particularly for organisms where existing records are sparse. Excluding terrestrial DNA inputs, we identified significant effects of both distance from the mouth of Sydney Harbour and geomorphic zone on biological community structure in the ToL-metabarcoding dataset (entire community), as well as in each of the taxonomic subgroups that we considered (fish, macroinvertebrates, algae and aquatic plants, bacteria). This effect appeared to be driven by taxa as a collective versus a few individual taxa, with each taxon explaining no more than 0.62% of the variation between geomorphic zones. Similarly, taxonomic richness was significantly higher within geomorphic zones with large sample sizes, but also decreased by 1% with each additional kilometer from the estuary mouth, a result consistent with a reduction in tidal inputs and available habitat in upper catchments. Based on these results, we suggest that ToL-metabarcoding can be used to benchmark biological monitoring in other urbanized estuaries globally, and in Sydney Harbour at future time points based on its detection of bioindicators across the tree of life. We also suggest that robust biotic snapshots can be archived following extensive curation of taxonomic assignments that incorporates their ecological affinities, supported by records from relevant and regional biodiversity repositories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D DiBattista
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
| | - Ashley M Fowler
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia.
| | - Tanika C Shalders
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
| | - Robert J Williams
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries (retired).
| | - Shaun Wilkinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bourbour RP, Aylward CM, Meehan TD, Martinico BL, Badger ME, Goodbla AM, Fish AM, Ely TE, Briggs CW, Hull EM. Feeding en route: Prey availability and traits influence prey selection by an avian predator on migration. J Anim Ecol 2024. [PMID: 38881237 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
During animal migration, ephemeral communities of taxa at all trophic levels co-occur over space and time. The interactions between predators and prey along migration corridors are ecologically and evolutionarily significant. However, these interactions remain understudied in terrestrial systems and warrant further investigations using novel approaches. We investigated the predator-prey interactions between a migrating avivorous predator and ephemeral avian prey community in the fall migration season. We tested for associations between avian traits and prey selection and hypothesized that prey traits (i.e. relative size, flocking behaviour, habitat, migration tendency and availability) would influence prey selection by a sexually dimorphic raptor on migration. To document prey consumption, we sampled trace prey DNA from beaks and talons of migrating sharp-shinned hawks Accipiter striatus (n = 588). We determined prey availability in the ephemeral avian community by extracting weekly abundance indices from eBird Status and Trends data. We used discrete choice models to assess prey selection and visualized the frequency of prey in diet and availability on the landscape over the fall migration season. Using eDNA metabarcoding, we detected prey species on 94.1% of the hawks sampled (n = 525/588) comprising 1396 prey species detections from 65 prey species. Prey frequency in diet and eBird relative abundance of prey species were correlated over the migration season for top-selected prey species, suggesting prey availability is an important component of raptor-songbird interactions during fall. Prey size, flocking behaviour and non-breeding habitat association were prey traits that significantly influenced predator choice. We found differences between female and male hawk prey selection, suggesting that sexual size dimorphism has led to distinct foraging strategies on migration. This research integrated field data collected by a volunteer-powered raptor migration monitoring station and public-generated data from eBird to reveal elusive predator-prey dynamics occurring in an ephemeral raptor-songbird community during fall migration. Understanding dynamic raptor-songbird interactions along migration routes remains a relatively unexplored frontier in animal ecology and is necessary for the conservation and management efforts of migratory and resident communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P Bourbour
- Department of Animal Science and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Cody M Aylward
- Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | | | - Breanna L Martinico
- Department of Animal Science and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mary E Badger
- Department of Animal Science and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Animal Science and Genomics Variation Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alisha M Goodbla
- Department of Animal Science and Genomics Variation Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Allen M Fish
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Teresa E Ely
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christopher W Briggs
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
- College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Elisha M Hull
- Department of Animal Science and Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Blackman R, Couton M, Keck F, Kirschner D, Carraro L, Cereghetti E, Perrelet K, Bossart R, Brantschen J, Zhang Y, Altermatt F. Environmental DNA: The next chapter. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17355. [PMID: 38624076 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Molecular tools are an indispensable part of ecology and biodiversity sciences and implemented across all biomes. About a decade ago, the use and implementation of environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect biodiversity signals extracted from environmental samples opened new avenues of research. Initial eDNA research focused on understanding population dynamics of target species. Its scope thereafter broadened, uncovering previously unrecorded biodiversity via metabarcoding in both well-studied and understudied ecosystems across all taxonomic groups. The application of eDNA rapidly became an established part of biodiversity research, and a research field by its own. Here, we revisit key expectations made in a land-mark special issue on eDNA in Molecular Ecology in 2012 to frame the development in six key areas: (1) sample collection, (2) primer development, (3) biomonitoring, (4) quantification, (5) behaviour of DNA in the environment and (6) reference database development. We pinpoint the success of eDNA, yet also discuss shortfalls and expectations not met, highlighting areas of research priority and identify the unexpected developments. In parallel, our retrospective couples a screening of the peer-reviewed literature with a survey of eDNA users including academics, end-users and commercial providers, in which we address the priority areas to focus research efforts to advance the field of eDNA. With the rapid and ever-increasing pace of new technical advances, the future of eDNA looks bright, yet successful applications and best practices must become more interdisciplinary to reach its full potential. Our retrospect gives the tools and expectations towards concretely moving the field forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosetta Blackman
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marjorie Couton
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - François Keck
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Kirschner
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Landscape Dynamics & Ecology, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Luca Carraro
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Eva Cereghetti
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kilian Perrelet
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Urban Water Management, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Bossart
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Jeanine Brantschen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Schoenle A, Scepanski D, Floß A, Büchel P, Koblitz AK, Scherwaß A, Arndt H, Waldvogel AM. The dilemma of underestimating freshwater biodiversity: morphological and molecular approaches. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:69. [PMID: 38802764 PMCID: PMC11131255 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02261-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthropogenic impacts on freshwater habitats are causing a recent biodiversity decline far greater than that documented for most terrestrial ecosystems. However, knowledge and description of freshwater biodiversity is still limited, especially targeting all size classes to uncover the distribution of biodiversity between different trophic levels. We assessed the biodiversity of the Lower Rhine and associated water bodies in the river's flood plain including the river's main channel, oxbows and gravel-pit lakes, spanning from the level of protists up to the level of larger invertebrate predators and herbivores organized in size classes (nano-, micro, meio- and macrofauna). Morphological diversity was determined by morphotypes, while the molecular diversity (amplicon sequencing variants, ASVs) was assessed through eDNA samples with metabarcoding targeting the V9 region of the 18S rDNA. RESULTS Considering all four investigated size classes, the percentage of shared taxa between both approaches eDNA (ASVs with 80-100% sequence similarity to reference sequences) and morphology (morphotypes), was always below 15% (5.4 ± 3.9%). Even with a more stringent filtering of ASVs (98-100% similarity), the overlap of taxa could only reach up to 43% (18.3 ± 12%). We observed low taxonomic resolution of reference sequences from freshwater organisms in public databases for all size classes, especially for nano-, micro-, and meiofauna, furthermore lacking metainformation if species occur in freshwater, marine or terrestrial ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS In our study, we provide a combination of morphotype detection and metabarcoding that particularly reveals the diversity in the smaller size classes and furthermore highlights the lack of genetic resources in reference databases for this diversity. Especially for protists (nano- and microfauna), a combination of molecular and morphological approaches is needed to gain the highest possible community resolution. The assessment of freshwater biodiversity needs to account for its sub-structuring in different ecological size classes and across compartments in order to reveal the ecological dimension of diversity and its distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schoenle
- Ecological Genomics, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dominik Scepanski
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Floß
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Pascal Büchel
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Koblitz
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anja Scherwaß
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hartmut Arndt
- General Ecology, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ann-Marie Waldvogel
- Ecological Genomics, Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Biocenter Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Perry WB, Seymour M, Orsini L, Jâms IB, Milner N, Edwards F, Harvey R, de Bruyn M, Bista I, Walsh K, Emmett B, Blackman R, Altermatt F, Lawson Handley L, Mächler E, Deiner K, Bik HM, Carvalho G, Colbourne J, Cosby BJ, Durance I, Creer S. An integrated spatio-temporal view of riverine biodiversity using environmental DNA metabarcoding. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4372. [PMID: 38782932 PMCID: PMC11116482 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48640-3] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenically forced changes in global freshwater biodiversity demand more efficient monitoring approaches. Consequently, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is enabling ecosystem-scale biodiversity assessment, yet the appropriate spatio-temporal resolution of robust biodiversity assessment remains ambiguous. Here, using intensive, spatio-temporal eDNA sampling across space (five rivers in Europe and North America, with an upper range of 20-35 km between samples), time (19 timepoints between 2017 and 2018) and environmental conditions (river flow, pH, conductivity, temperature and rainfall), we characterise the resolution at which information on diversity across the animal kingdom can be gathered from rivers using eDNA. In space, beta diversity was mainly dictated by turnover, on a scale of tens of kilometres, highlighting that diversity measures are not confounded by eDNA from upstream. Fish communities showed nested assemblages along some rivers, coinciding with habitat use. Across time, seasonal life history events, including salmon and eel migration, were detected. Finally, effects of environmental conditions were taxon-specific, reflecting habitat filtering of communities rather than effects on DNA molecules. We conclude that riverine eDNA metabarcoding can measure biodiversity at spatio-temporal scales relevant to species and community ecology, demonstrating its utility in delivering insights into river community ecology during a time of environmental change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William Bernard Perry
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
| | | | - Luisa Orsini
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ifan Bryn Jâms
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Nigel Milner
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - François Edwards
- APEM Ltd, A17 Embankment Business Park, Heaton Mersey, Manchester, SK4 3GN, UK
| | - Rachel Harvey
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Mark de Bruyn
- Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Iliana Bista
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325, Frankfurt, Germany
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333, Leiden, Netherlands
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kerry Walsh
- Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH, UK
| | - Bridget Emmett
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Rosetta Blackman
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
- Evolutionary Biology Group (@EvoHull), Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull (UoH), Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lori Lawson Handley
- Evolutionary Biology Group (@EvoHull), Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull (UoH), Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Elvira Mächler
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Kristy Deiner
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holly M Bik
- Department of Marine Sciences and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Georgia, USA
| | - Gary Carvalho
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - John Colbourne
- Environmental Genomics Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Bernard Jack Cosby
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Simon Creer
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution at Bangor (MEEB), School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Li W, Hou X, Zhu Y, Du J, Xu C, Yang J, Li Y. eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Species-Area Relationship of Amphibians on the Zhoushan Archipelago. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1519. [PMID: 38891566 PMCID: PMC11171295 DOI: 10.3390/ani14111519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The species-area relationship is important for understanding species diversity patterns at spatial scales, but few studies have examined the relationship using environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. We investigated amphibian diversity on 21 islands of the Zhoushan Archipelago and nearby mainland areas in China using the combination of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method (TLTM) and identified the species-area relationship for amphibians on the islands. The mean detection probability of eDNA is 0.54, while the mean detection probability of TLTM is 0.24. The eDNA metabarcoding detected eight amphibian species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas, compared with seven species on the islands and nine species in the mainland areas that were identified by TLTM. Amphibian richness on the islands increased with island area and habitat diversity. The species-area relationship for amphibians in the archipelago was formulated as the power function (S = 0.47A0.21) or exponential function (S = 2.59 + 2.41 (logA)). Our results suggested that eDNA metabarcoding is more sensitive for the detection of amphibian species. The combined use of eDNA metabarcoding and the traditional line transect method may optimize the survey results for amphibians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xianglei Hou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yunlong Zhu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiacong Du
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Chunxia Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingyuan Yang
- Shengnongjia National Park Administration, Huibei Provincial Key Laboratory on Conservation Biology of the Shennongjia Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey, Shennongjia 442421, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Dan ME, Portner EJ, Bowman JS, Semmens BX, Owens SM, Greenwald SM, Choy CA. Using low volume eDNA methods to sample pelagic marine animal assemblages. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303263. [PMID: 38748719 PMCID: PMC11095688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an increasingly useful method for detecting pelagic animals in the ocean but typically requires large water volumes to sample diverse assemblages. Ship-based pelagic sampling programs that could implement eDNA methods generally have restrictive water budgets. Studies that quantify how eDNA methods perform on low water volumes in the ocean are limited, especially in deep-sea habitats with low animal biomass and poorly described species assemblages. Using 12S rRNA and COI gene primers, we quantified assemblages comprised of micronekton, coastal forage fishes, and zooplankton from low volume eDNA seawater samples (n = 436, 380-1800 mL) collected at depths of 0-2200 m in the southern California Current. We compared diversity in eDNA samples to concurrently collected pelagic trawl samples (n = 27), detecting a higher diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate groups in the eDNA samples. Differences in assemblage composition could be explained by variability in size-selectivity among methods and DNA primer suitability across taxonomic groups. The number of reads and amplicon sequences variants (ASVs) did not vary substantially among shallow (<200 m) and deep samples (>600 m), but the proportion of invertebrate ASVs that could be assigned a species-level identification decreased with sampling depth. Using hierarchical clustering, we resolved horizontal and vertical variability in marine animal assemblages from samples characterized by a relatively low diversity of ecologically important species. Low volume eDNA samples will quantify greater taxonomic diversity as reference libraries, especially for deep-dwelling invertebrate species, continue to expand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E. Dan
- Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Elan J. Portner
- Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jeff S. Bowman
- Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Brice X. Semmens
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah M. Owens
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Stephanie M. Greenwald
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, United States of America
| | - C. Anela Choy
- Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Combe M, Cherif E, Deremarque T, Rivera-Ingraham G, Seck-Thiam F, Justy F, Doudou JC, Carod JF, Carage T, Procureur A, Gozlan RE. Wastewater sequencing as a powerful tool to reveal SARS-CoV-2 variant introduction and spread in French Guiana, South America. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 924:171645. [PMID: 38479523 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171645] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The origin of introduction of a new pathogen in a country, the evolutionary dynamics of an epidemic within a country, and the role of cross-border areas on pathogen dynamics remain complex to disentangle and are often poorly understood. For instance, cross-border areas represent the ideal location for the sharing of viral variants between countries, with international air travel, land travel and waterways playing an important role in the cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, monitoring the point of entry and the evolutionary dynamics of viruses in space and time within local populations remain challenging. Here we tested the efficiency of wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping in monitoring Covid-19 epidemiology and SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics in French Guiana, a tropical country located in South America. Our results suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping are powerful tools to monitor variant introduction and disease evolution within a tropical country but the inclusion of both clinical and wastewater samples could still improve our understanding of genetic diversity co-circulating. Wastewater sequencing also revealed the cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants within the country. Interestingly, we found some amino acid changes specific to the variants co-circulating in French Guiana, suggesting a local evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 variants after their introduction. More importantly, our results showed that the proximity to bordering countries was not the origin of the emergence of the French Guianese B.1.160.25 variant, but rather that this variant emerged from an ancestor B.1.160 variant introduced by European air plane travelers, suggesting thus that air travel remains a significant risk for cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Overall, we suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping provides a cost effective and non-invasive approach for pathogen monitoring and an early-warning tool for disease emergence and spread within a tropical country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Combe
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Emira Cherif
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Georgina Rivera-Ingraham
- ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France; Centre IRD de Cayenne, Guyane Française, France
| | | | | | | | - Jean-François Carod
- Laboratoire et Pôle Appui aux Fonctions Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier de l'Ouest Guyanais (CHOG), 97320 Saint-Laurent du Maroni, Guyane Française, France
| | - Thierry Carage
- Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale Carage de Kourou, 6 avenue Leopold Heder, 97310 Kourou, Guyane Française, France
| | - Angélique Procureur
- Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale Carage de Kourou, 6 avenue Leopold Heder, 97310 Kourou, Guyane Française, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gaetano AS, Semeraro S, Greco S, Greco E, Cain A, Perrone MG, Pallavicini A, Licen S, Fornasaro S, Barbieri P. Bioaerosol Sampling Devices and Pretreatment for Bacterial Characterization: Theoretical Differences and a Field Experience in a Wastewater Treatment Plant. Microorganisms 2024; 12:965. [PMID: 38792794 PMCID: PMC11124041 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on bioaerosol bacterial biodiversity have relevance in both ecological and health contexts, and molecular methods, such as 16S rRNA gene-based barcoded sequencing, provide efficient tools for the analysis of airborne bacterial communities. Standardized methods for sampling and analysis of bioaerosol DNA are lacking, thus hampering the comparison of results from studies implementing different devices and procedures. Three samplers that use gelatin filtration, swirling aerosol collection, and condensation growth tubes for collecting bioaerosol at an aeration tank of a wastewater treatment plant in Trieste (Italy) were used to determine the bacterial biodiversity. Wastewater samples were collected directly from the untreated sewage to obtain a true representation of the microbiological community present in the plant. Different samplers and collection media provide an indication of the different grades of biodiversity, with condensation growth tubes and DNA/RNA shieldTM capturing the richer bacterial genera. Overall, in terms of relative abundance, the air samples have a lower number of bacterial genera (64 OTUs) than the wastewater ones (75 OTUs). Using the metabarcoding approach to aerosol samples, we provide the first preliminary step toward the understanding of a significant diversity between different air sampling systems, enabling the scientific community to orient research towards the most informative sampling strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Serena Gaetano
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sabrina Semeraro
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Samuele Greco
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Enrico Greco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| | - Andrea Cain
- ACEGAS APS AMGA S.p.a., Via degli Alti Forni, 11, 34121 Trieste, Italy;
| | | | - Alberto Pallavicini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Sabina Licen
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
| | - Stefano Fornasaro
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
| | - Pierluigi Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri, 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.G.); (S.S.); (E.G.); (S.L.); (S.F.)
- INSTM National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology, Via G. Giusti, 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hogg CJ. Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:362-373. [PMID: 38012268 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00671-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
A key action of the new Global Biodiversity Framework is the maintenance of genetic diversity in all species to safeguard their adaptive potential. To achieve this goal, a translational mindset, which aims to convert results of basic research into direct practical benefits, needs to be applied to biodiversity conservation. Despite much discussion on the value of genomics to conservation, a disconnect between those generating genomic resources and those applying it to biodiversity management remains. As global efforts to generate reference genomes for non-model species increase, investment into practical biodiversity applications is critically important. Applications such as understanding population and multispecies diversity and longitudinal monitoring need support alongside education for policymakers on integrating the data into evidence-based decisions. Without such investment, the opportunity to revolutionize global biodiversity conservation using genomics will not be fully realized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schenekar T, Baxter J, Phukuntsi MA, Sedlmayr I, Weckworth B, Mwale M. Optimizing waterborne eDNA capture from waterholes in savanna systems under remote field conditions. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13942. [PMID: 38390664 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is used for biodiversity assessments in a variety of ecosystems across the globe, whereby different eDNA concentration, preservation and extraction methods can outperform others depending on the sampling conditions and environment. Tropical and subtropical ecosystems in Africa are among the less studied systems concerning eDNA-based monitoring. Waterholes in arid parts of southern Africa represent important agglomeration points for terrestrial mammals, and the eDNA shed into such waterbodies provides a powerful source of information for monitoring mammalian biodiversity in the surrounding area. However, the applied methods for eDNA sampling, preservation and filtering in different freshwater systems vary greatly, and rigorous protocol testing in African freshwater systems is still lacking. This study represents the first attempt to examine variations in eDNA concentration, preservation and extraction methods under remote field conditions using waterborne eDNA in a savanna system. Collected samples were heavily affected by microalgal and bacterial growth, impeding eDNA capture and PCR success. We demonstrate clear effects of the methodological choices, which also depend on the state of eDNA. A preliminary metabarcoding run showed little taxonomic overlap in mammal species detection between two metabarcoding primers tested. We recommend water filtering (using filters with pore sizes >1 μm) over centrifugation for eDNA concentration, Longmire's solution for ambient temperature sample preservation and Qiagen's DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit for DNA extraction of these inhibitor-prone samples. Furthermore, at least two independent metabarcoding markers should be utilized in order to maximize species detections in metabarcoding studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Janine Baxter
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Metlholo Andries Phukuntsi
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa
- South African Environmental Observation Network, Egagasini Node, South African Environmental Observation Network, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Monica Mwale
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa
- NRF-South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda (Grahamstown), South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
van der Pouw Kraan D, Graham CT, Kavanagh F, Mirimin L. Development and validation of a DNA-based multi-species biomonitoring toolkit using a high-throughput qPCR platform: A case study of Irish shellfish species. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13945. [PMID: 38429942 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Biomonitoring of marine life has been enhanced in recent years by the integration of innovative DNA-based approaches, which offer advantages over more laborious techniques (e.g. microscopy). However, trade-offs between throughput, sensitivity and quantitative measurements must be made when choosing between the prevailing molecular methodologies (i.e. metabarcoding or qPCR/dPCR). Thus, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate the utility of a microfluidic-enabled high-throughput quantitative PCR platform (HTqPCR) for the rapid and cost-effective development and validation of a DNA-based multi-species biomonitoring toolkit, using larvae of 23 commercially targeted bivalve and crustacean species as a case study. The workflow was divided into three main phases: definition of (off-) target taxa and establishment of reference databases (PHASE 1); selection/development and assessment of molecular assays (PHASE 2); and protocol optimization and field validation (PHASE 3). 42 assays were eventually chosen and validated. Genetic signal not only showed good correlation with direct visual counts by microscopy but also showed the ability to provide quantitative data at the highest taxonomic resolution (species level) in a time- and cost-effective fashion. This study developed a biomonitoring toolkit, demonstrating the considerable advantages of this state-of-the-art technology in boosting the developmental testing and application of panels of molecular assays for the monitoring and management of natural resources. Once developed, this approach provides a cost and time-effective alternative compared to other multi-species approaches (e.g. metabarcoding). In addition, it is transferable to a wide range of species and will aid future monitoring programmes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis van der Pouw Kraan
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland
| | - Conor T Graham
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland
| | - Fiona Kavanagh
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland
| | - Luca Mirimin
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mu Y, Zhang J, Yang J, Wu J, Zhang Y, Yu H, Zhang X. Enhancing amphibian biomonitoring through eDNA metabarcoding. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13931. [PMID: 38345249 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Surveying biodiversity has taken a quantum leap with environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, an immensely powerful approach lauded for its efficiency, sensitivity, and non-invasiveness. This approach emerges as a game-changer for the elusive realm of endangered and rare species-think nocturnal, environmentally elusive amphibians. Here, we have established a framework for constructing a reliable metabarcoding pipeline for amphibians, covering primer design, performance evaluation, laboratory validation, and field validation processes. The Am250 primer, located on the mitochondrial 16S gene, was optimal for the eDNA monitoring of amphibians, which demonstrated higher taxonomic resolution, smaller species amplification bias, and more extraordinary detection ability compared to the other primers tested. Am250 primer exhibit an 83.8% species amplification rate and 75.4% accurate species identification rate for Chinese amphibians in the in silico PCR and successfully amplified all tested species of the standard samples in the in vitro assay. Furthermore, the field-based mesocosm experiment showed that DNA can still be detected by metabarcoding even days to weeks after organisms have been removed from the mesocosm. Moreover, field mesocosm findings indicate that eDNA metabarcoding primers exhibit different read abundances, which can affect the relative biomass of species. Thus, appropriate primers should be screened and evaluated by three experimental approaches: in silico PCR simulation, target DNA amplification, and mesocosm eDNA validation. The selection of a single primer set or multiple primers' combination should be based on the monitoring groups to improve the species detection rate and the credibility of results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Clark AJ, Atkinson SR, Scarponi V, Cane T, Geraldi NR, Hendy IW, Shipway JR, Peck M. Cost-effort analysis of Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and environmental DNA (eDNA) in monitoring marine ecological communities. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17091. [PMID: 38708339 PMCID: PMC11067900 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17091] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the diversity and distribution of species in an ecosystem is essential to assess the success of restoration strategies. Implementing biomonitoring methods, which provide a comprehensive assessment of species diversity and mitigate biases in data collection, holds significant importance in biodiversity research. Additionally, ensuring that these methods are cost-efficient and require minimal effort is crucial for effective environmental monitoring. In this study we compare the efficiency of species detection, the cost and the effort of two non-destructive sampling techniques: Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to survey marine vertebrate species. Comparisons were conducted along the Sussex coast upon the introduction of the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw. This Byelaw aims to boost the recovery of the dense kelp beds and the associated biodiversity that existed in the 1980s. We show that overall BRUV surveys are more affordable than eDNA, however, eDNA detects almost three times as many species as BRUV. eDNA and BRUV surveys are comparable in terms of effort required for each method, unless eDNA analysis is carried out externally, in which case eDNA requires less effort for the lead researchers. Furthermore, we show that increased eDNA replication yields more informative results on community structure. We found that using both methods in conjunction provides a more complete view of biodiversity, with BRUV data supplementing eDNA monitoring by recording species missed by eDNA and by providing additional environmental and life history metrics. The results from this study will serve as a baseline of the marine vertebrate community in Sussex Bay allowing future biodiversity monitoring research projects to understand community structure as the ecosystem recovers following the removal of trawling fishing pressure. Although this study was regional, the findings presented herein have relevance to marine biodiversity and conservation monitoring programs around the globe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice J. Clark
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie R. Atkinson
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Scarponi
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Cane
- Department of Geography, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ian W. Hendy
- School of Biological Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - J. Reuben Shipway
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Mika Peck
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lu Q, Liu Y, Zhao J, Yao M. Successive accumulation of biotic assemblages at a fine spatial scale along glacier-fed waters. iScience 2024; 27:109476. [PMID: 38617565 PMCID: PMC11015461 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Glacier-fed waters create strong environmental filtering for biota, whereby different organisms may assume distinct distribution patterns. By using environmental DNA-based metabarcoding, we investigated the multi-group biodiversity distribution patterns of the Parlung No. 4 Glacier, on the Tibetan Plateau. Altogether, 642 taxa were identified from the meltwater stream and the downstream Ranwu Lake, including 125 cyanobacteria, 316 diatom, 183 invertebrate, and 18 vertebrate taxa. As the distance increased from the glacier terminus, community complexity increased via sequential occurrences of cyanobacteria, diatoms, invertebrates, and vertebrates, as well as increasing taxa numbers. The stream and lake showed different community compositions and distinct taxa. Furthermore, the correlations with environmental factors and community assembly mechanisms showed group- and habitat-specific patterns. Our results reveal the rapid spatial succession and increasing community complexity along glacial flowpaths and highlight the varying adaptivity of different organisms, while also providing insight into the ecosystem responses to global change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jindong Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Meng Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Han D, Park KT, Kim H, Kim TH, Jeong MK, Nam SI. Interaction between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria in Arctic fjords during the glacial melting season as revealed by eDNA metabarcoding. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae059. [PMID: 38621717 PMCID: PMC11067963 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The hydrographic variability in the fjords of Svalbard significantly influences water mass properties, causing distinct patterns of microbial diversity and community composition between surface and subsurface layers. However, surveys on the phytoplankton-associated bacterial communities, pivotal to ecosystem functioning in Arctic fjords, are limited. This study investigated the interactions between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacterial communities in Svalbard fjord waters through comprehensive eDNA metabarcoding with 16S and 18S rRNA genes. The 16S rRNA sequencing results revealed a homogenous community composition including a few dominant heterotrophic bacteria across fjord waters, whereas 18S rRNA results suggested a spatially diverse eukaryotic plankton distribution. The relative abundances of heterotrophic bacteria showed a depth-wise distribution. By contrast, the dominant phytoplankton populations exhibited variable distributions in surface waters. In the network model, the linkage of phytoplankton (Prasinophytae and Dinophyceae) to heterotrophic bacteria, particularly Actinobacteria, suggested the direct or indirect influence of bacterial contributions on the fate of phytoplankton-derived organic matter. Our prediction of the metabolic pathways for bacterial activity related to phytoplankton-derived organic matter suggested competitive advantages and symbiotic relationships between phytoplankton and heterotrophic bacteria. Our findings provide valuable insights into the response of phytoplankton-bacterial interactions to environmental changes in Arctic fjords.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dukki Han
- Department of Marine Molecular Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Tae Park
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Haryun Kim
- East Sea Research Institute, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Uljin 36315, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Hoon Kim
- Department of Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Man-Ki Jeong
- Department of Smart Fisheries Resources Management, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Il Nam
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
de Menezes GCA, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Fungal diversity present in snow sampled in summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, assessed using metabarcoding. Extremophiles 2024; 28:23. [PMID: 38575688 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01338-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the fungal diversity present in snow sampled during summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctica using a metabarcoding approach. A total of 586,693 fungal DNA reads were obtained and assigned to 203 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota and Mucoromycota. Penicillium sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Coniochaeta sp., Aspergillus sp., Antarctomyces sp., Phenoliferia sp., Cryolevonia sp., Camptobasidiaceae sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Bannozyma yamatoana were assessed as abundant taxa. The snow fungal diversity indices were high but varied across the different locations sampled. Of the fungal ASVs detected, only 28 were present all sampling locations. The 116 fungal genera detected in the snow were dominated by saprotrophic taxa, followed by symbiotrophic and pathotrophic. Our data indicate that, despite the low temperature and oligotrophic conditions, snow can host a richer mycobiome than previously reported through traditional culturing studies. The snow mycobiome includes a complex diversity dominated by cosmopolitan, cold-adapted, psychrophilic and endemic taxa. While saprophytes dominate this community, a range of other functional groups are present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Karita C R Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Micheline C Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Korbel KL, Hose GC. Monitoring Groundwater Health Using Citizen Scientists in Semi-Arid Regional Australia. GROUND WATER 2024. [PMID: 38572675 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Citizen science (CS) around the world is undergoing a resurgence, potentially due to the utilization of new technologies and methods to capture information, such as data and photo entry via mobile phone apps. CS has been used in aquatic ecology for several decades, however the use of volunteers to collect data in groundwaters has rarely occurred. Groundwater research, particularly groundwater ecosystems, is unevenly distributed across the world, limiting our knowledge of these ecosystems and their functions. Here, we engaged six volunteer farmers in semi-arid region of north-western New South Wales, Australia to participate in an assessment of groundwater health using privately owned wells. Volunteers were supplied with sampling kits and instructions on sampling methods. Data retrieved indicated the health of the groundwater ecosystems, simultaneously providing information on water quality and groundwater biota present within the farm aquifers. Diverse stygofauna were collected from the trial, which reflected historical records of stygofauna within the same catchment indicating the viability of using citizen scientist for data collection. The citizen science project not only aided the collection of data and assessment of groundwater health, but also provided a tool for education, attracting media attention which furthered the education to a national audience. The amount of data still required to understand groundwater ecosystems, combined with the urgency to manage these environments, suggests that citizen scientists may complement the efforts of scientists around the globe to establish the impacts and consequences of human activities on this resource.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L Korbel
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Grant C Hose
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Nakai M, Masumoto T, Asaeda T, Rahman M. Improving the efficiency of adaptive management methods in multiple fishways using environmental DNA. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301197. [PMID: 38557776 PMCID: PMC10984549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Dams and weirs impede the continuity of rivers and transit of migratory fish. To overcome this obstacle, fishways are installed worldwide; however, management after installation is important. The Miyanaka Intake Dam has three fish ladders with different flow velocities and discharges and has been under adaptive management since 2012. Fish catch surveys, conducted as an adaptive management strategy, place a heavy burden on fish. Furthermore, a large number of investigators must be mobilized during the 30-day investigation period. Thus, a monitoring method using environmental DNA that exerts no burden on fish and requires only a few surveyors (to obtain water samples) and an in-house analyst was devised; however, its implementation in a fishway away from the point of analysis and with limited flow space and its effective water sampling frequency have not been reported. Therefore, in 2019, we started a trial aiming to evaluate the methods and application conditions of environmental DNA surveys for the continuous and long-term monitoring of various fish fauna upstream and downstream of the Miyanaka Intake Dam. To evaluate the fish fauna, the results of an environmental DNA survey (metabarcoding method) for 2019 to 2022 were compared to those of a catch survey in the fishway from 2012 to 2022. The results confirmed the use of environmental DNA surveys in evaluating the contribution of fishways to biodiversity under certain conditions and introduced a novel method for sample collection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Nakai
- Japan International Consultants for Transportation Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taku Masumoto
- Energy Planning Department, East Japan Railway Company, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ibabe A, Menéndez-Teleña D, Soto-López V, Ardura A, Arias A, Bartolomé M, Borrell YJ, Fernandez S, Machado-Schiaffino G, Mateo JL, Dopico E, Garcia-Vazquez E. New dockside eDNA based protocol to detect the seaweed Asparagopsis armata evaluated by stakeholders. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116259. [PMID: 38492267 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116259] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Early detection of invasive species is crucial to deal effectively with biological invasions in ports, which are hotspots of species introductions. In this study, a simplified end-time PCR methodology conducted on eDNA from water samples was developed for rapid detection of the invasive seaweed Asparagopsis armata (four hours from water collection to result visualization). It was tested dockside in four international Spanish ports in presence of stakeholders, whose feedback was obtained to explore the real applicability of this biotechnology. Although biological invasions were not a main concern for them, results indicate a unanimous approval of the methodology by the stakeholders, having detected the presence of A. armata in three of the ports. Stakeholders suggested further developments for easier application of the tool and multiple species detection, to be adopted for the control of invasive species in ports.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Ibabe
- Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Deva Menéndez-Teleña
- Department of Nautical Science and Technology, Escuela S. Marina Civil de Gijon 1ª Planta, Campus de Gijon s/n, 33203 Gijon, Spain
| | - Verónica Soto-López
- Department of Nautical Science and Technology, Escuela S. Marina Civil de Gijon 1ª Planta, Campus de Gijon s/n, 33203 Gijon, Spain
| | - Alba Ardura
- Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Andrés Arias
- Department of Biology of Organisms and Systems, C/Catedrático Rodrigo Uría s/n, 33071 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Marlene Bartolomé
- Department of Nautical Science and Technology, Escuela S. Marina Civil de Gijon 1ª Planta, Campus de Gijon s/n, 33203 Gijon, Spain
| | - Yaisel J Borrell
- Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Sara Fernandez
- Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Juan L Mateo
- Department of Informatics, Edificio Departamental 1, Campus de Gijon s/n, 33204 Gijon, Spain
| | - Eduardo Dopico
- Department of Education Sciences, Campus de Llamaquique, C/Aniceto Sela s/n, 33005 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Eva Garcia-Vazquez
- Department of Functional Biology, C/Julian Claveria s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
De Barba M, Baur M, Boyer F, Fumagalli L, Konec M, Miquel C, Pazhenkova E, Remollino N, Skrbinšek T, Stoffel C, Taberlet P. Individual genotypes from environmental DNA: Fingerprinting snow tracks of three large carnivore species. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13915. [PMID: 38099394 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Continued advancements in environmental DNA (eDNA) research have made it possible to access intraspecific variation from eDNA samples, opening new opportunities to expand non-invasive genetic studies of wildlife populations. However, the use of eDNA samples for individual genotyping, as typically performed in non-invasive genetics, still remains elusive. We present successful individual genotyping of eDNA obtained from snow tracks of three large carnivores: brown bear (Ursus arctos), European lynx (Lynx lynx) and wolf (Canis lupus). DNA was extracted using a protocol for isolating water eDNA and genotyped using amplicon sequencing of short tandem repeats (STR), and for brown bear a sex marker, on a high-throughput sequencing platform. Individual genotypes were obtained for all species, but genotyping performance differed among samples and species. The proportion of samples genotyped to individuals was higher for brown bear (5/7) and wolf (7/10) than for lynx (4/9), and locus genotyping success was greater for brown bear (0.88). The sex marker was typed in six out of seven brown bear samples. Results for three species show that reliable individual genotyping, including sex identification, is now possible from eDNA in snow tracks, underlining its vast potential to complement the non-invasive genetic methods used for wildlife. To fully leverage the application of snow track eDNA, improved understanding of the ideal species- and site-specific sampling conditions, as well as laboratory methods promoting genotyping success, is needed. This will also inform efforts to retrieve and type nuclear DNA from other eDNA samples, thereby advancing eDNA-based individual and population-level studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta De Barba
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Molly Baur
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Boyer
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne and Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marjeta Konec
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christian Miquel
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - Elena Pazhenkova
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nadège Remollino
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tomaž Skrbinšek
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- DivjaLabs Ltd., Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Céline Stoffel
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Taberlet
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
- UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø Museum, Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bader S, Gaye-Siessegger J, Scholz B, Mota-Ferreira M, Brinker A. Obtaining accurate population estimates with reduced workload and lower fish mortality in multi-mesh gillnet sampling of a large pre-alpine lake. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299774. [PMID: 38498550 PMCID: PMC10947718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299774] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The EU Water Framework Directive requires monitoring of the ecological status of lakes, with fish as a relevant class of biotic quality indicator, but monitoring fish populations in large lakes is demanding. This study evaluated use in Lake Constance of a novel multi-mesh gillnet modified to reduce catch numbers. In direct comparison with conventional European Committee for Standardization (CEN) nets we achieved 48% reduction in fish mortality with 38% less labour for tasks directly influenced by fish catch numbers, while maintaining comparable species composition and catch per unit effort. Comparison of mesh sizes indicated no significant reduction in species detection in area-reduced panels of the small mesh sizes, while total observed species richness was greater when using the modified nets. Differences in benthic species communities among depth strata were common, while those of pelagic zones were more homogeneous and did not differ significantly with depth. Catches of different net types from the same depth stratum did not exhibit significant differences. The dominance structure of the most common species, relevant to lake assessment, was similar in catches of both net types, suggesting overall superiority of the modified nets in Lake Constance. Sampling conducted according to standard European CEN protocol, while deploying 60% fewer nets, yielded sufficiently precise abundance estimates for monitoring shallow areas of the benthic zone. A 50% difference in the abundance of dominant species was detected among sampling events with a certainty of 95%. The sample did not provide comparable accuracy in deep benthic strata or the pelagic zone, but was adequate to record complete inventories of species present. Based on this trial data, a new stratified sampling design is proposed for monitoring large lake fish communities for ecological assessment. Depth-dependent fish communities were used to calculate the required number of nets, which resulted in a 69% reduction for the entire lake compared to the CEN calculation method. Using the modified nets increases the feasibility of performing WFD surveys, by reducing effort and cost, while the simultaneous halving of fish mortality minimises the negative impact of fish surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Bader
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
| | | | - Barbara Scholz
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
- The Bavarian State Institute of Forestry, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Brinker
- Fisheries Research Station Baden-Württemberg, Langenargen, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Vuataz L, Reding JP, Reding A, Roesti C, Stoffel C, Vinçon G, Gattolliat JL. A comprehensive DNA barcoding reference database for Plecoptera of Switzerland. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6322. [PMID: 38491157 PMCID: PMC10943188 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56930-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA barcoding is an essential tool in modern biodiversity sciences. Despite considerable work to barcode the tree of life, many groups, including insects, remain partially or totally unreferenced, preventing barcoding from reaching its full potential. Aquatic insects, especially the three orders Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT), are key freshwater quality indicators worldwide. Among them, Plecoptera (stoneflies), which are among the most sensitive aquatic insects to habitat modification, play a central role in river monitoring surveys. Here, we present an update of the Plecoptera reference database for (meta)barcoding in Switzerland, now covering all 118 species known from this country. Fresh specimens, mostly from rare or localized species, were collected, and 151 new CO1 barcodes were generated. These were merged with the 422 previously published sequences, resulting in a dataset of 573 barcoded specimens. Our CO1 dataset was delimited in 115 CO1 clusters based on a priori morphological identifications, of which 17% are newly reported for Switzerland, and 4% are newly reported globally. Among the 115 CO1 clusters, 85% showed complete congruence with morphology. Distance-based analysis indicated local barcoding gaps in 97% of the CO1 clusters. This study significantly improves the Swiss reference database for stoneflies, enhancing future species identification accuracy and biodiversity monitoring. Additionally, this work reveals cryptic diversity and incongruence between morphology and barcodes, both presenting valuable opportunities for future integrative taxonomic studies. Voucher specimens, DNA extractions and reference barcodes are available for future developments, including metabarcoding and environmental DNA surveys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Vuataz
- Département de zoologie, Palais de Rumine, Muséum cantonal des sciences naturelles, Place Riponne 6, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | - Céline Stoffel
- Département de zoologie, Palais de Rumine, Muséum cantonal des sciences naturelles, Place Riponne 6, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Jean-Luc Gattolliat
- Département de zoologie, Palais de Rumine, Muséum cantonal des sciences naturelles, Place Riponne 6, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne (UNIL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Diehl N, Li H, Scheschonk L, Burgunter-Delamare B, Niedzwiedz S, Forbord S, Sæther M, Bischof K, Monteiro C. The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima I: recent advances in a changing climate. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:183-212. [PMID: 38109285 PMCID: PMC10921839 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima is a Laminariales species widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Its physiology and ecology have been studied since the 1960s, given its ecological relevance on western temperate coasts. However, research interest has been rising recently, driven mainly by reports of negative impacts of anthropogenically induced environmental change and by the increased commercial interest in cultivating the species, with several industrial applications for the resulting biomass. SCOPE We used a variety of sources published between 2009 to May 2023 (but including some earlier literature where required), to provide a comprehensive review of the ecology, physiology, biochemical and molecular biology of S. latissima. In so doing we aimed to better understand the species' response to stressors in natural communities, but also inform the sustainable cultivation of the species. CONCLUSION Due to its wide distribution, S. latissima has developed a variety of physiological and biochemical mechanisms to adjust to environmental changes, including adjustments in photosynthetic parameters, modulation of osmolytes and antioxidants, reprogramming of gene expression and epigenetic modifications, among others summarized in this review. This is particularly important because massive changes in the abundance and distribution of S. latissima have already been observed. Namely, presence and abundance of S. latissima has significantly decreased at the rear edges on both sides of the Atlantic, and increased in abundance at the polar regions. These changes were mainly caused by climate change and will therefore be increasingly evident in the future. Recent developments in genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics have clarified the existence of genetic differentiation along its distributional range with implications in the fitness at some locations. The complex biotic and abiotic interactions unraveled here demonstrated the cascading effects the disappearance of a kelp forest can have in a marine ecosystem. We show how S. latissima is an excellent model to study acclimation and adaptation to environmental variability and how to predict future distribution and persistence under climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Diehl
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Huiru Li
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture (Ministry of Education), Fisheries College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | | | - Bertille Burgunter-Delamare
- Matthias Schleiden Institute of Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sarina Niedzwiedz
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Silje Forbord
- Department of Fisheries and New Biomarine Industry, SINTEF Ocean AS, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maren Sæther
- Seaweed Solutions AS, Bynesveien 50C, 7018 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kai Bischof
- Marine Botany, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Catia Monteiro
- CIBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – InBIO Associate Laboratory, Campus of Vairão, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus of Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sinclair JS, Welti EAR, Altermatt F, Álvarez-Cabria M, Aroviita J, Baker NJ, Barešová L, Barquín J, Bonacina L, Bonada N, Cañedo-Argüelles M, Csabai Z, de Eyto E, Dohet A, Dörflinger G, Eriksen TE, Evtimova V, Feio MJ, Ferréol M, Floury M, Forio MAE, Fornaroli R, Goethals PLM, Heino J, Hering D, Huttunen KL, Jähnig SC, Johnson RK, Kuglerová L, Kupilas B, L'Hoste L, Larrañaga A, Leitner P, Lorenz AW, McKie BG, Muotka T, Osadčaja D, Paavola R, Palinauskas V, Pařil P, Pilotto F, Polášek M, Rasmussen JJ, Schäfer RB, Schmidt-Kloiber A, Scotti A, Skuja A, Straka M, Stubbington R, Timm H, Tyufekchieva V, Tziortzis I, Vannevel R, Várbíró G, Velle G, Verdonschot RCM, Vray S, Haase P. Multi-decadal improvements in the ecological quality of European rivers are not consistently reflected in biodiversity metrics. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:430-441. [PMID: 38278985 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02305-4] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Humans impact terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems, yet many broad-scale studies have found no systematic, negative biodiversity changes (for example, decreasing abundance or taxon richness). Here we show that mixed biodiversity responses may arise because community metrics show variable responses to anthropogenic impacts across broad spatial scales. We first quantified temporal trends in anthropogenic impacts for 1,365 riverine invertebrate communities from 23 European countries, based on similarity to least-impacted reference communities. Reference comparisons provide necessary, but often missing, baselines for evaluating whether communities are negatively impacted or have improved (less or more similar, respectively). We then determined whether changing impacts were consistently reflected in metrics of community abundance, taxon richness, evenness and composition. Invertebrate communities improved, that is, became more similar to reference conditions, from 1992 until the 2010s, after which improvements plateaued. Improvements were generally reflected by higher taxon richness, providing evidence that certain community metrics can broadly indicate anthropogenic impacts. However, richness responses were highly variable among sites, and we found no consistent responses in community abundance, evenness or composition. These findings suggest that, without sufficient data and careful metric selection, many common community metrics cannot reliably reflect anthropogenic impacts, helping explain the prevalence of mixed biodiversity trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James S Sinclair
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
| | - Ellen A R Welti
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Mario Álvarez-Cabria
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Jukka Aroviita
- Freshwater and Marine Solutions, Finnish Environment Institute, Oulu, Finland
| | - Nathan J Baker
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - José Barquín
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Luca Bonacina
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences - DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Núria Bonada
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles
- FEHM-Lab (Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management), Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Zoltán Csabai
- Department of Hydrobiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
- Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Tihany, Hungary
| | - Elvira de Eyto
- Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services, Marine Institute, Newport, Ireland
| | - Alain Dohet
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Gerald Dörflinger
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Tor E Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
| | - Vesela Evtimova
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria J Feio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Associated Laboratory ARNET, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Martial Ferréol
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathieu Floury
- Department Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, Villeurbanne, France
| | | | - Riccardo Fornaroli
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences - DISAT, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter L M Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Daniel Hering
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Sonja C Jähnig
- Department Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard K Johnson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lenka Kuglerová
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Kupilas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, Chair for Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Lionel L'Hoste
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Aitor Larrañaga
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Patrick Leitner
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Armin W Lorenz
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Brendan G McKie
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Timo Muotka
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Diana Osadčaja
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Riku Paavola
- Oulanka Research Station, University of Oulu Infrastructure Platform, Kuusamo, Finland
| | | | - Petr Pařil
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Marek Polášek
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jes J Rasmussen
- NIVA Denmark (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ralf B Schäfer
- iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Astrid Schmidt-Kloiber
- Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alberto Scotti
- Eurac Research, Institute for Alpine Environment, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
- APEM Ltd, Stockport, UK
| | - Agnija Skuja
- Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Michal Straka
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, p.r.i., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rachel Stubbington
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Henn Timm
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fishery, Centre for Limnology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Elva vald, Estonia
| | - Violeta Tyufekchieva
- Department of Aquatic Ecosystems, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Iakovos Tziortzis
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Rudy Vannevel
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Flanders Environment Agency, Aalst, Belgium
| | - Gábor Várbíró
- Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gaute Velle
- LFI - The Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ralf C M Verdonschot
- Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarah Vray
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Haase
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Bernatchez L, Ferchaud AL, Berger CS, Venney CJ, Xuereb A. Genomics for monitoring and understanding species responses to global climate change. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:165-183. [PMID: 37863940 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00657-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
All life forms across the globe are experiencing drastic changes in environmental conditions as a result of global climate change. These environmental changes are happening rapidly, incur substantial socioeconomic costs, pose threats to biodiversity and diminish a species' potential to adapt to future environments. Understanding and monitoring how organisms respond to human-driven climate change is therefore a major priority for the conservation of biodiversity in a rapidly changing environment. Recent developments in genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies are enabling unprecedented insights into the evolutionary processes and molecular bases of adaptation. This Review summarizes methods that apply and integrate omics tools to experimentally investigate, monitor and predict how species and communities in the wild cope with global climate change, which is by genetically adapting to new environmental conditions, through range shifts or through phenotypic plasticity. We identify advantages and limitations of each method and discuss future research avenues that would improve our understanding of species' evolutionary responses to global climate change, highlighting the need for holistic, multi-omics approaches to ecosystem monitoring during global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louis Bernatchez
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anne-Laure Ferchaud
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
- Parks Canada, Office of the Chief Ecosystem Scientist, Protected Areas Establishment, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Chloé Suzanne Berger
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clare J Venney
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Amanda Xuereb
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Brooks BW, van den Berg S, Dreier DA, LaLone CA, Owen SF, Raimondo S, Zhang X. Towards Precision Ecotoxicology: Leveraging Evolutionary Conservation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Targets to Understand Adverse Outcomes Across Species and Life Stages. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:526-536. [PMID: 37787405 PMCID: PMC11017229 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Translation of environmental science to the practice aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, and our future ability to do so relies on the development of a precision ecotoxicology approach wherein we leverage the genetics and informatics of species to better understand and manage the risks of global pollution. A little over a decade ago, a workshop focusing on the risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment identified a priority research question, "What can be learned about the evolutionary conservation of PPCP targets across species and life stages in the context of potential adverse outcomes and effects?" We review the activities in this area over the past decade, consider prospects of more recent developments, and identify future research needs to develop next-generation approaches for PPCPs and other global chemicals and waste challenges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:526-536. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - David A Dreier
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, Astra Zeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
| | - Sandy Raimondo
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lafferty K. Metabarcoding is (usually) more cost effective than seining or qPCR for detecting tidewater gobies and other estuarine fishes. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16847. [PMID: 38426139 PMCID: PMC10903359 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16847] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can be more sensitive than traditional sampling. For instance, past studies found a specific qPCR probe of a water sample is better than a seine for detecting the endangered northern tidewater goby, Eucyclogobius newberryi. Furthermore, a metabarcoding sample often detects more fish species than a seine detects. Less consideration has been given to sampling costs. To help managers choose the best sampling method for their budget, I estimated detectability and costs per sample to compare the cost effectiveness of seining, qPCR and metabarcoding for detecting endangered tidewater gobies as well as the associated estuarine fish community in California. Five samples were enough for eDNA methods to confidently detect tidewater gobies, whereas seining took twice as many samples. Fixed program costs can be high for qPCR and seining, whereas metabarcoding had high per-sample costs, which led to changes in relative cost-effectiveness with the number of locations sampled. Under some circumstances (multiple locations visited or an already validated assay), qPCR was a bit more cost effective than metabarcoding for detecting tidewater gobies. Under all assumptions, seining was the least cost-effective method for detecting tidewater gobies or other fishes. Metabarcoding was the most cost-effective sampling method for multiple species detection. Despite its advantages, metabarcoding has gaps in sequence databases, can yield vague results for some species, and can lead novices to serious errors. Seining remains the only way to rapidly assess densities, size distributions, and fine-scale spatial distributions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Lafferty
- U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gonçalves VN, Pimenta RS, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Fungal and fungal-like diversity present in ornithogenically influenced maritime Antarctic soils assessed using metabarcoding. J Basic Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38386010 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
We assessed soil fungal and fungal-like diversity using metabarcoding in ornithogenically influenced soils around nests of the bird species Phalacrocorax atriceps, Macronectes giganteus, Pygoscelis antarcticus, and Pygoscelis adelie on the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctic. A total of 1,392,784 fungal DNA reads was obtained and assigned to 186 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant fungal phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Rozellomycota, Mortierellomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Basidiobolomycota, Mucoromycota, and the fungal-like Oomycota (Stramenopila), in rank order. Antarctomyces sp., Blastocladiomycota sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Microascaceae sp., Mortierella sp., Lobulomycetales sp., Sordariomycetes sp., Fungal sp., Rhizophydiales sp., Pseudeurotiaceae sp., Chytridiomycota sp. 1, Filobasidiella sp., Tausonia pullulans, Betamyces sp., and Leucosporidium sp. were the most abundant assigned taxa. The fungal assemblages present in the different ornithogenically influenced soils displayed different diversity indices. However, in general, we detected high fungal diversity and few taxa shared between the samples. Despite the polyextreme environmental conditions experienced in these Antarctic soils, the metabarcoding approach detected a rich and complex fungal community dominated by saprophytes, but with some pathogenic taxa also present. The community was dominated by psychrophilic and psychrotolerant taxa, some apparently endemic to Antarctica, and those identified only at higher taxonomic levels, which may represent currently undescribed fungi. The mycobiome detected included taxa characterized by different ecological roles, including saprotrophic, human- and animal-associated, phytopathogenic, mutualistic, and cosmopolitan. These fungi may potentially be dispersed by birds or in the air column over great distances, including between different regions within Antarctica and from South America, Africa, and Oceania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vívian Nicolau Gonçalves
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Raphael Sânzio Pimenta
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Geral e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Karita C R Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Tocantins, Brasil
| | - Micheline C Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Las Palmeras, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brasil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Múrria C, Maceda-Veiga A, Barata C, Gomà J, Faria M, Antich A, Arnedo MA, Bonada N, Prat N. From biomarkers to community composition: Negative effects of UV/chlorine-treated reclaimed urban wastewater on freshwater biota. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169561. [PMID: 38142994 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169561] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
The use of urban wastewater reclaimed water has recently increased across the globe to restore stream environmental flows and mitigate the effects of water scarcity. Reclaimed water is disinfected using different treatments, but their effects into the receiving rivers are little studied. Physiological bioassays and biomarkers can detect sub-lethal effects on target species, but do not provide information on changes in community structure. In contrast, official monitoring programs use community structure information but often at coarse taxonomic resolution level that may fail to detect species level impacts. Here, we combined commonly used biomonitoring approaches from organism physiology to community species composition to scan a broad range of effects of disinfection of reclaimed water by UV-light only and both UV/chlorine on the biota. We (1) performed bioassays in one laboratory species (water flea Daphnia magna) and measured biomarkers in two wild species (caddisfly Hydropsyche exocellata and the barbel Luciobarbus graellsii), (2) calculated standard indices of biotic quality (IBQ) for diatoms, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fishes, and (3) analysed community species composition of eukaryotes determined by Cytochrome Oxidase C subunit I (cox1) metabarcoding. Only the UV/chlorine treatment caused significant changes in feeding rates of D. magna and reduced antioxidant defenses, increased anaerobic metabolism and altered the levels of lipid peroxidiation in H. exocellata. However, inputs of reclaimed water were significantly associated with a greater proportion of circulating neutrophils and LG-PAS cells in L. graellsii. Despite IBQ did not discriminate between the two water treatments, metabarcoding data detected community composition changes upon exposure to UV/chlorine reclaimed water. Overall, despite the effects of UV/chlorine-treated water were transient, our study suggests that UV-light treated is less harmful for freshwater biota than UV/chlorine-treated reclaimed water, but those effects depend of the organizational level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cesc Múrria
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Zoological Systematics & Evolution (ZooSysEvo), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Alberto Maceda-Veiga
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca FORESTREAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Carlos Barata
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Gomà
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Melissa Faria
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Adrià Antich
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes (Girona), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Miquel A Arnedo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Zoological Systematics & Evolution (ZooSysEvo), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Núria Bonada
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Narcís Prat
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Grup de Recerca Freshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (FEHM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Newton JP, Nevill P, Bateman PW, Campbell MA, Allentoft ME. Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates. iScience 2024; 27:108904. [PMID: 38533454 PMCID: PMC10964257 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA holds significant promise as a non-invasive tool for tracking terrestrial biodiversity. However, in non-homogenous terrestrial environments, the continual exploration of new substrates is crucial. Here we test the hypothesis that spider webs can act as passive biofilters, capturing eDNA from vertebrates present in the local environment. Using a metabarcoding approach, we detected vertebrate eDNA from all analyzed spider webs (N = 49). Spider webs obtained from an Australian woodland locality yielded vertebrate eDNA from 32 different species, including native mammals and birds. In contrast, webs from Perth Zoo, less than 50 km away, yielded eDNA from 61 different vertebrates and produced a highly distinct species composition, largely reflecting exotic species hosted in the zoo. We show that higher animal biomass and proximity to animal enclosures increased eDNA detection probability in the zoo. Our results indicate a tremendous potential for using spider webs as a cost-effective means to monitor terrestrial vertebrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P. Newton
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Minesite Biodiversity Monitoring with eDNA (MBioMe) research group, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Paul Nevill
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Minesite Biodiversity Monitoring with eDNA (MBioMe) research group, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- Minesite Biodiversity Monitoring with eDNA (MBioMe) research group, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Behavioural Ecology Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Matthew A. Campbell
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Morten E. Allentoft
- Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Dyson K, Nicolau AP, Tenneson K, Francesconi W, Daniels A, Andrich G, Caldas B, Castaño S, de Campos N, Dilger J, Guidotti V, Jaques I, McCullough IM, McDevitt AD, Molina L, Nekorchuk DM, Newberry T, Pereira CL, Perez J, Richards-Dimitrie T, Rivera O, Rodriguez B, Sales N, Tello J, Wespestad C, Zutta B, Saah D. Coupling remote sensing and eDNA to monitor environmental impact: A pilot to quantify the environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0289437. [PMID: 38354171 PMCID: PMC10866516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289437] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring is essential to ensure that environmental goals are being achieved, including those of sustainable agriculture. Growing interest in environmental monitoring provides an opportunity to improve monitoring practices. Approaches that directly monitor land cover change and biodiversity annually by coupling the wall-to-wall coverage from remote sensing and the site-specific community composition from environmental DNA (eDNA) can provide timely, relevant results for parties interested in the success of sustainable agricultural practices. To ensure that the measured impacts are due to the environmental projects and not exogenous factors, sites where projects have been implemented should be benchmarked against counterfactuals (no project) and control (natural habitat) sites. Results can then be used to calculate diverse sets of indicators customized to monitor different projects. Here, we report on our experience developing and applying one such approach to assess the impact of shaded cocoa projects implemented by the Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA) near São Félix do Xingu, in Pará, Brazil. We used the Continuous Degradation Detection (CODED) and LandTrendr algorithms to create a remote sensing-based assessment of forest disturbance and regeneration, estimate carbon sequestration, and changes in essential habitats. We coupled these remote sensing methods with eDNA analyses using arthropod-targeted primers by collecting soil samples from intervention and counterfactual pasture field sites and a control secondary forest. We used a custom set of indicators from the pilot application of a coupled monitoring framework called TerraBio. Our results suggest that, due to IMAFLORA's shaded cocoa projects, over 400 acres were restored in the intervention area and the community composition of arthropods in shaded cocoa is closer to second-growth forests than that of pastures. In reviewing the coupled approach, we found multiple aspects worked well, and we conclude by presenting multiple lessons learned.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Dyson
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Andréa P. Nicolau
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Karis Tenneson
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Wendy Francesconi
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Amy Daniels
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Giulia Andrich
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Caldas
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Silvia Castaño
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Nathanael de Campos
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - John Dilger
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Vinicius Guidotti
- Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola (IMAFLORA), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Iara Jaques
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Ian M. McCullough
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | | | - Luis Molina
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Dawn M. Nekorchuk
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Tom Newberry
- University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jorge Perez
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | | | - Ovidio Rivera
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Beatriz Rodriguez
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Naiara Sales
- University of Salford, Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jhon Tello
- Alliance of Biodiversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kasarani, Nairobi
| | - Crystal Wespestad
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - Brian Zutta
- Spatial Informatics Group, LLC, Pleasanton, California, United States of America
| | - David Saah
- University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wang J, Liu Z, Ren J, Zhang M, Guan Z, Zhao X, Gao C, Zhang G. A preliminary study characterizing temporal changes in soil bacterial communities after dismembered bones were buried. Electrophoresis 2024. [PMID: 38332582 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Determining the burial time of skeletal remains is one of the most important issues of forensic medicine. We speculated that the microbiome of gravesoil may be a promising method to infer burial time by virtue of time-dependent. As we know, forensic scientists have established various models to predict the postmortem interval of a decedent based on the changes in body and soil microbiome communities. However, limited data are available on the burial time prediction for bones, especially dismembered bones. In this exploratory study, we initially conducted 16S rRNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing on the burial soil of 10 porcine femurs within a 120-day period and analyzed the changes in soil microbial communities. Compared with the control soil, a higher Shannon index in the microbial diversity of burial soil containing bones was observed. Correlation analysis identified 61 time-related bacterial families and the best subset selection method obtained best subset, containing Thermomonosporaceae, Clostridiaceae, 0319-A21, and Oxalobacteraceae, which were used to construct a simplified multiple linear regression model with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 56.69 accumulated degree day (ADD). An additional random forest model was established based on indicators for the minimum cross-validation error of Thermomonosporaceae, Clostridiaceae, 0319-A21, Oxalobacteraceae, and Syntrophobacteraceae, with an MAE of 55.65 ADD. The produced empirical data in this pilot study provided the evidence of feasibility that the microbial successional changes of burial soil will predict the burial time of dismembered bones and may also expand the current knowledge of the effects of bone burial on soil bacterial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Wang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Zidong Liu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Jianbo Ren
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Zimeng Guan
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Sciences College, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Xingchun Zhao
- Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Cairong Gao
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Gengqian Zhang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Jinzhong, Shanxi, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sun X, Guo N, Gao J, Xiao N. Using eDNA to survey amphibians: Methods, applications, and challenges. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:456-471. [PMID: 37986625 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has received attention from biologists due to its sensitivity, convenience, labor and material efficiency, and lack of damage to organisms. The extensive application of eDNA has opened avenues for the monitoring and biodiversity assessment of amphibians, which are frequently small and difficult to observe in the field, in areas such as biodiversity survey assessment and detection of specific, rare and threatened, or alien invasive species. However, the accuracy of eDNA can be influenced by factors such as ambient temperature, pH, and false positives or false negatives, which makes eDNA an adjunctive tool rather than a replacement for traditional surveys. This review provides a concise overview of the eDNA method and its workflow, summarizes the differences between applying eDNA for detecting amphibians and other organisms, reviews the research progress in eDNA technology for amphibian monitoring, identifies factors influencing detection efficiency, and discusses the challenges and prospects of eDNA. It aims to serve as a reference for future research on the application of eDNA in amphibian detection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ningning Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
- Collage of Forestry, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, China
| | - Nengwen Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Vanderpool DD, Wilcox TM, Young MK, Pilgrim KL, Schwartz MK. Simultaneous species detection and discovery with environmental DNA metabarcoding: A freshwater mollusk case study. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11020. [PMID: 38371866 PMCID: PMC10870330 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11020] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is a powerful tool for rapidly characterizing biodiversity patterns for specious, cryptic taxa with incomplete taxonomies. One such group that are also of high conservation concern are North American freshwater gastropods. In particular, springsnails of the genus Pyrgulopsis (Family: Hydrobiidae) are prevalent throughout the western United States where >140 species have been described. Many of the described species are narrow endemics known from a single spring or locality, and it is believed that there are likely many additional species which have yet to be described. The distribution of these species across the landscape is of interest because habitat loss and degradation, climate change, groundwater mining, and pollution have resulted in springsnail imperilment rates as high as 92%. Determining distributions with conventional sampling methods is limited by the fact that these snails are often <5 mm in length with few distinguishing morphological characters, making them both difficult to detect and to identify. We developed an eDNA metabarcoding protocol that is both inexpensive and capable of rapid, accurate detection of all known Pyrgulopsis species. When compared with conventional collection techniques, our pipeline consistently resulted in detection at sites previously known to contain Pyrgulopsis springsnails and at a cost per site that is likely to be substantially less than the conventional sampling and individual barcoding that has been done historically. Additionally, because our method uses eDNA extracted from filtered water, it is non-destructive and suitable for the detection of endangered species where "no take" restrictions may be in effect. This effort represents both a tool which is immediately applicable to taxa of high conservation concern across western North America and a case study in the broader application of eDNA sampling for landscape assessments of cryptic taxa of conservation concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D. Vanderpool
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish ConservationMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Taylor M. Wilcox
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish ConservationMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Michael K. Young
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish ConservationMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Kristine L. Pilgrim
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish ConservationMissoulaMontanaUSA
| | - Michael K. Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish ConservationMissoulaMontanaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Osathanunkul M, Suwannapoom C. An eDNA-based assessment of Garra cambodgiensis (stonelapping minnow) distribution on a megadiverse river, the Mekong. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10898. [PMID: 38333100 PMCID: PMC10850809 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10898] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Garra cambodgiensis (stonelapping minnow) has experienced significant population declines, prompting intensive research and management, although its distribution in river systems such as the Mekong remains obscure. Effective conservation and management necessitate accurate monitoring and survey data on the distribution of freshwater species. Traditional surveying techniques for fish may be challenging and generate insufficient data on species distribution. This study developed an eDNA-based method for detecting G. cambodgiensis to address this void. Twenty-one locations were surveyed. Water samples were collected in triplicate from the river's surface at each site and processed within 48 h in a dedicated laboratory. Primers and probes for G. cambodgiensis were meticulously designed and species-specificity tested to ensure accurate detection without interference from co-occurring species in the same geographic range. Each water sample was analysed by qPCR using six technical replicates. The results of qPCR were reported as positive with quantifiable eDNA concentration (copies/mL), below the limit of quantification, or non-detectable. G. cambodgiensis eDNA was detected in water samples collected from 10 out of 21 sampling sites, with concentrations ranging from 8.5 to 2990.0 copies/mL. Importantly, G. cambodgiensis eDNA was consistently detected in all three replicate water samples at each site where the qPCR experiment yielded positive results. The findings of this study demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating eDNA-based monitoring or surveys for G. cambodgiensis in the ecologically diverse Mekong River. Monitoring based on eDNA can aid in targeting and informing conservation and management of G. cambodgiensis in its natural habitat. Comprehensive and robust information on species distribution can be obtained via an eDNA-based survey, which could contribute to more efficient and informed decision-making processes in fisheries management and conservation efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maslin Osathanunkul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of ScienceChiang Mai UniversityChiang MaiThailand
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Saenz-Agudelo P, Ramirez P, Beldade R, Campoy AN, Garmendia V, Search FV, Fernández M, Wieters EA, Navarrete SA, Landaeta MF, Pérez-Matus A. Environmental DNA reveals temporal variation in mesophotic reefs of the Humboldt upwelling ecosystems of central Chile: Toward a baseline for biodiversity monitoring of unexplored marine habitats. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10999. [PMID: 38390005 PMCID: PMC10881902 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10999] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Temperate mesophotic reef ecosystems (TMREs) are among the least known marine habitats. Information on their diversity and ecology is geographically and temporally scarce, especially in highly productive large upwelling ecosystems. Lack of information remains an obstacle to understanding the importance of TMREs as habitats, biodiversity reservoirs and their connections with better-studied shallow reefs. Here, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples to characterize the community composition of TMREs on the central Chilean coast, generating the first baseline for monitoring the biodiversity of these habitats. We analyzed samples from two depths (30 and 60 m) over four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) and at two locations approximately 16 km apart. We used a panel of three metabarcodes, two that target all eukaryotes (18S rRNA and mitochondrial COI) and one specifically targeting fishes (16S rRNA). All panels combined encompassed eDNA assigned to 42 phyla, 90 classes, 237 orders, and 402 families. The highest family richness was found for the phyla Arthropoda, Bacillariophyta, and Chordata. Overall, family richness was similar between depths but decreased during summer, a pattern consistent at both locations. Our results indicate that the structure (composition) of the mesophotic communities varied predominantly with seasons. We analyzed further the better-resolved fish assemblage and compared eDNA with other visual methods at the same locations and depths. We recovered eDNA from 19 genera of fish, six of these have also been observed on towed underwater videos, while 13 were unique to eDNA. We discuss the potential drivers of seasonal differences in community composition and richness. Our results suggest that eDNA can provide valuable insights for monitoring TMRE communities but highlight the necessity of completing reference DNA databases available for this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Saenz-Agudelo
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
| | - Paula Ramirez
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia Chile
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
| | - Ricardo Beldade
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
| | - Ana N Campoy
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR-CIMAR) University of the Algarve Faro Portugal
| | - Vladimir Garmendia
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
| | - Francesca V Search
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
| | - Miriam Fernández
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
| | - Evie A Wieters
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
| | - Sergio A Navarrete
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) and Coastal Socio-Ecological Millennium Institute (SECOS) Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Center for Oceanographic Research COASTAL-COASTAL Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Mauricio F Landaeta
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Laboratorio de Ictiología e Interacciones Biofísicas (LABITI) Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso Valparaíso Chile
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Matus
- Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Conservation of Temperate Marine Ecosystems, NUTME Las Cruces Chile
- Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas Pontificia Universidad Católica Las Cruces Chile
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Hartvig I, Kosawang C, Rasmussen H, Kjær ED, Nielsen LR. Co-occurring orchid species associated with different low-abundance mycorrhizal fungi from the soil in a high-diversity conservation area in Denmark. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10863. [PMID: 38304271 PMCID: PMC10828919 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10863] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-fungal interactions are ubiquitous across ecosystems and contribute significantly to plant ecology and evolution. All orchids form obligate symbiotic relationships with specific fungi for germination and early growth, and the distribution of terrestrial orchid species has been linked to occurrence and abundance of specific orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) in the soil. The availability of OMF can therefore be a habitat requirement that is relevant to consider when establishing management and conservation strategies for threatened orchid species, but knowledge on the spatial distribution of OMF in soil is limited. We here studied the mycorrhizal associations of three terrestrial orchid species (Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis purpurea and Platanthera chlorantha) found in a local orchid diversity hotspot in eastern Denmark, and investigated the abundance of the identified mycorrhizal fungi in the surrounding soil. We applied ITS metabarcoding to samples of orchid roots, rhizosphere soil and bulk soil collected at three localities, supplemented with standard barcoding of root samples with OMF specific primers, and detected 22 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) putatively identified as OMF. The three orchid species displayed different patterns of OMF associations, supporting the theory that association with specific fungi constitutes part of an orchid's ecological niche allowing co-occurrence of many species in orchid-rich habitats. The identified mycorrhizal partners in the basidiomycete families Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae (Cantharallales) were detected in low abundance in rhizosphere soil, and appeared almost absent from bulk soil at the localities. This finding highlights our limited knowledge of the ecology and trophic mode of OMF outside orchid tissues, as well as challenges in the detection of specific OMF with standard methods. Potential implications for management and conservation strategies are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ida Hartvig
- Forest and Landscape Ecology, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterSmithsonian InstituteEdgewaterMarylandUSA
| | - Chatchai Kosawang
- Forest and Landscape Ecology, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Hanne Rasmussen
- Forest and Landscape Ecology, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Erik Dahl Kjær
- Forest and Landscape Ecology, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Lene Rostgaard Nielsen
- Forest and Landscape Ecology, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource ManagementUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Nou XA, Voigt CA. Sentinel cells programmed to respond to environmental DNA including human sequences. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:211-220. [PMID: 37770697 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01431-1] [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: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring environmental DNA can track the presence of organisms, from viruses to animals, but requires continuous sampling of transient sequences from a complex milieu. Here we designed living sentinels using Bacillus subtilis to report the uptake of a DNA sequence after matching it to a preencoded target. Overexpression of ComK increased DNA uptake 3,000-fold, allowing for femtomolar detection in samples dominated by background DNA. This capability was demonstrated using human sequences containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with facial features. Sequences were recorded with high efficiency and were protected from nucleases for weeks. The SNP could be determined by sequencing or in vivo using CRISPR interference to turn on reporter expression in response to a specific base. Multiple SNPs were recorded by one cell or through a consortium in which each member recorded a different sequence. Sentinel cells could surveil for specific sequences over long periods of time for applications spanning forensics, ecology and epidemiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Angelina Nou
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christopher A Voigt
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
San Martin G, Hautier L, Mingeot D, Dubois B. How reliable is metabarcoding for pollen identification? An evaluation of different taxonomic assignment strategies by cross-validation. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16567. [PMID: 38313030 PMCID: PMC10838070 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16567] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabarcoding is a powerful tool, increasingly used in many disciplines of environmental sciences. However, to assign a taxon to a DNA sequence, bioinformaticians need to choose between different strategies or parameter values and these choices sometimes seem rather arbitrary. In this work, we present a case study on ITS2 and rbcL databases used to identify pollen collected by bees in Belgium. We blasted a random sample of sequences from the reference database against the remainder of the database using different strategies and compared the known taxonomy with the predicted one. This in silico cross-validation (CV) approach proved to be an easy yet powerful way to (1) assess the relative accuracy of taxonomic predictions, (2) define rules to discard dubious taxonomic assignments and (3) provide a more objective basis to choose the best strategy. We obtained the best results with the best blast hit (best bit score) rather than by selecting the majority taxon from the top 10 hits. The predictions were further improved by favouring the most frequent taxon among those with tied best bit scores. We obtained better results with databases containing the full sequences available on NCBI rather than restricting the sequences to the region amplified by the primers chosen in our study. Leaked CV showed that when the true sequence is present in the database, blast might still struggle to match the right taxon at the species level, particularly with rbcL. Classical 10-fold CV-where the true sequence is removed from the database-offers a different yet more realistic view of the true error rates. Taxonomic predictions with this approach worked well up to the genus level, particularly for ITS2 (5-7% of errors). Using a database containing only the local flora of Belgium did not improve the predictions up to the genus level for local species and made them worse for foreign species. At the species level, using a database containing exclusively local species improved the predictions for local species by ∼12% but the error rate remained rather high: 25% for ITS2 and 42% for rbcL. Foreign species performed worse even when using a world database (59-79% of errors). We used classification trees and GLMs to model the % of errors vs. identity and consensus scores and determine appropriate thresholds below which the taxonomic assignment should be discarded. This resulted in a significant reduction in prediction errors, but at the cost of a much higher proportion of unassigned sequences. Despite this stringent filtering, at least 1/5 sequences deemed suitable for species-level identification ultimately proved to be misidentified. An examination of the variability in prediction accuracy between plant families showed that rbcL outperformed ITS2 for only two of the 27 families examined, and that the % correct species-level assignments were much better for some families (e.g. 95% for Sapindaceae) than for others (e.g. 35% for Salicaceae).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilles San Martin
- Life Sciences Department, Plant and Forest Health Unit, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Louis Hautier
- Life Sciences Department, Plant and Forest Health Unit, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Dominique Mingeot
- Life Sciences Department, Bioengineering Unit, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Benjamin Dubois
- Life Sciences Department, Bioengineering Unit, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zarcero J, Antich A, Rius M, Wangensteen OS, Turon X. A new sampling device for metabarcoding surveillance of port communities and detection of non-indigenous species. iScience 2024; 27:108588. [PMID: 38111684 PMCID: PMC10726295 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabarcoding techniques are revolutionizing studies of marine biodiversity. They can be used for monitoring non-indigenous species (NIS) in ports and harbors. However, they are often biased by inconsistent sampling methods and incomplete reference databases. Logistic constraints in ports prompt the development of simple, easy-to-deploy samplers. We tested a new device called polyamide mesh for ports organismal monitoring (POMPOM) with a high surface-to-volume ratio. POMPOMS were deployed inside a fishing and recreational port in the Mediterranean alongside conventional settlement plates. We also compiled a curated database with cytochrome oxidase (COI) sequences of Mediterranean NIS. COI metabarcoding of the communities settled in the POMPOMs captured a similar biodiversity than settlement plates, with shared molecular operational units (MOTUs) representing ca. 99% of reads. 38 NIS were detected in the port accounting for ca. 26% of reads. POMPOMs were easy to deploy and handle and provide an efficient method for NIS surveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Zarcero
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Adrià Antich
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marc Rius
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Zoology, Centre for Ecological Genomics and Wildlife Conservation, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Owen S. Wangensteen
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xavier Turon
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Zhang L, Zhou W, Jiao M, Xie T, Xie M, Li H, Suo A, Yue W, Ding D, He W. Use of passive sampling in environmental DNA metabarcoding technology: Monitoring of fish diversity in the Jiangmen coastal waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168298. [PMID: 37939943 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168298] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding technology is proving to be the most up-to-date and promising method for monitoring marine fish diversity. Fish eDNA is usually collected on a filter membrane after the filtration of water. Not only does this require the use of specialized equipment, but the amount of filtered water needed is also difficult to meet. The recently proposed passive eDNA collection method can expand the sampling scale, providing new perspectives for monitoring marine biodiversity. The role of collection methods in eDNA surveys, however, remains unclear. In this study, a low-cost custom framework with two types of filter membrane materials was used to conduct passive submersion samplings at the north and south ends of Shangchuan Island, Jiangmen, China. After defined periods of submersion, the filter membranes were recovered and eDNA extracted. Metabarcoding techniques were applied to detect fish species information in the eDNA samples. A total of 106 marine fish species from 27 orders, 53 families, and 92 genera, including one cartilaginous fish, were identified in the samples. The majority of fish detected by active filtration were also found in the passively collected samples, within the same location. Both sampling methods, therefore, showed similar species richness. Passive sampling was effective in identifying fish species diversity and provided a higher spatial resolution owing to the sample replicates. Passive sampling was also more sensitive in detecting species that differ significantly in abundance (biomarkers) between different sampling depths. When active filtration is not possible, or when large-scale sampling is the purpose of the study, passive sampling methods certainly provide a promising alternative. The findings of our study provide guidance for fish surveys and continuous bio-stereoscopic monitoring in coastal waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- Marine Environmental Engineering Center, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Weiguo Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Mengyu Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tian Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Mujiao Xie
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hanying Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Anning Suo
- Marine Environmental Engineering Center, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Weizhong Yue
- Marine Environmental Engineering Center, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
| | - Dewen Ding
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 51145, China
| | - Weihong He
- Marine Environmental Engineering Center, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Waters JM, Ni S, McCulloch GA. Freshwater eDNA reveals dramatic biological shifts linked to deforestation of New Zealand. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168174. [PMID: 37924886 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168174] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Deforestation is considered a major threat to biodiversity across many parts of the globe, but the biological impacts of this dramatic ecosystem disturbance often remain incompletely understood. In New Zealand - the world's last major landmass to be colonised by humans - widespread deforestation over recent centuries has left a highly fragmented suite of relict forest stands, ideal for assessing anthropogenic biological change. We hypothesise that this widespread environmental disturbance has underpinned repeated and predictable ecological shifts across distinct rivers and regions. Here we use freshwater environmental DNA (eDNA) data (113 samples across 38 locations; 89 insect taxa) to test for concordant biological shifts linked to this deforestation. eDNA analyses highlight consistent compositional and functional differentiation between forested versus deforested assemblages, including turnover of 'cryptic' congeneric taxa that are morphologically similar yet ecologically and genetically distinct. These dramatic biological shifts are evident even over fine spatial scales within streams, emphasising the widespread emergence of a novel 'deforested' assemblage. Our results illustrate that environmental change can drive predictable biological shifts across broad geographic regions, and highlight the power of eDNA for assessing anthropogenic ecosystem change over large geographic scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Waters
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Steven Ni
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Graham A McCulloch
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Curd EE, Gal L, Gallego R, Silliman K, Nielsen S, Gold Z. rCRUX: A Rapid and Versatile Tool for Generating Metabarcoding Reference libraries in R. ENVIRONMENTAL DNA (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2024; 6:e489. [PMID: 38370872 PMCID: PMC10871694 DOI: 10.1002/edn3.489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The sequencing revolution requires accurate taxonomic classification of DNA sequences. Key to making accurate taxonomic assignments are curated, comprehensive reference barcode databases. However, the generation and curation of such databases has remained challenging given the large and continuously growing volumes of both DNA sequence data and novel reference barcode targets. Monitoring and research applications require a greater diversity of specialized gene regions and targeted taxa then are currently curated by professional staff. Thus there is a growing need for an easy to implement computational tool that can generate comprehensive metabarcoding reference libraries for any bespoke locus. We address this need by reimagining CRUX from the Anacapa Toolkit and present the rCRUX package in R which, like it's predecessor, relies on sequence homology and PCR primer compatibility instead of keyword-searches to avoid limitations of user-defined metadata. The typical workflow involves searching for plausible seed amplicons (get_seeds_local() or get_seeds_remote()) by simulating in silico PCR to acquire a set of sequences analogous to PCR products containing a user-defined set of primer sequences. Next, these seeds are used to iteratively blast search seed sequences against a local copy of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) formatted nt database using a taxonomic-rank based stratified random sampling approach ( blast_seeds() ). This results in a comprehensive set of sequence matches. This database is dereplicated and cleaned (derep_and_clean_db()) by identifying identical reference sequences and collapsing the taxonomic path to the lowest taxonomic agreement across all matching reads. This results in a curated, comprehensive database of primer-specific reference barcode sequences from NCBI. Databases can then be compared (compare_db()) to determine read and taxonomic overlap. We demonstrate that rCRUX provides more comprehensive reference databases for the MiFish Universal Teleost 12S, Taberlet trnl, fungal ITS, and Leray CO1 loci than CRABS, MetaCurator, RESCRIPt, and ecoPCR reference databases. We then further demonstrate the utility of rCRUX by generating 24 reference databases for 20 metabarcoding loci, many of which lack dedicated reference database curation efforts. The rCRUX package provides a simple to use tool for the generation of curated, comprehensive reference databases for user-defined loci, facilitating accurate and effective taxonomic classification of metabarcoding and DNA sequence efforts broadly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Curd
- Vermont Biomedical Research Network, University of Vermont, VT, USA
| | - Luna Gal
- Landmark College, VT, USA
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ramon Gallego
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katherine Silliman
- Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
- NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Zachary Gold
- California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI), Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA, USA
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Brusati A, Agostinetto G, Bruno A, Casiraghi M, Pescini D, Sandionigi A, Balech B. Exploration and Retrieval of Virus-Related Molecular Data Using ExTaxsI: The Monkeypox Use Case. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2732:145-154. [PMID: 38060123 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3515-5_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Retrieval and visualization of biological data are essential for understanding complex systems. With the increasing volume of data generated from high-throughput sequencing technologies, effective and optimized data visualization tools have become indispensable. This is particularly relevant in the COVID-19 postpandemic period, where understanding the diversity and interactions of microbial communities (i.e., viral and bacterial) constitutes an important asset to develop and plan suitable interventions.In this chapter, we show the usage and the potentials of ExTaxsI (Exploring Taxonomy Information) tool to retrieve viral biodiversity data stored in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases and create the related visualization. In addition, by integrating different functions and modules, the tool generates relevant types of visualization plots to facilitate the exploration of microbial biodiversity communities useful to deep dive into ecological and taxonomic relationships among different species and identify potential significant targets.Using the Monkeypox virus as a case study, this work points out significant perspectives on biological data visualization, which can be used to gain insights into the ecology, evolution, and pathogenesis of viruses. Accordingly, we show the potentiality of ExTaxsI to organize and describe the available/downloaded data in an easy, simple, and interpretable way allowing the user to interact dynamically with the visualization plots through specific filters, zoom, and explore functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Brusati
- University of Pavia, Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Agostinetto
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Milan, Italy.
| | - Antonia Bruno
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Casiraghi
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Milan, Italy
| | - Dario Pescini
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Sandionigi
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Milan, Italy
- Quantia Consulting srl, Department of Data Science and Education, Remote Company, Milan, Italy
| | - Bachir Balech
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies (CNR), Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|