- Course overview
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- Environmental DNA
- Workflow for eDNA metabarcoding
- DADA2 for analysing metabarcoding data
- Taxonomic classification to assess biodiversity
- Statistics principles in data analysis
- Advances in biodiversity exploration
- Open data resources for eDNA
- Bringing data to life: Data management and sharing
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Marine biodiversity from seawater samples
eDNA analysis for assessing marine fish biodiversity from a seawater sample
This case study highlights research that explores the use of metabarcoding environmental DNA (eDNA) from seawater to assess marine fish biodiversity, and was one of the first applications of eDNA in the marine environment. Researchers collected ½-litre seawater samples from Denmark’s temperate marine ecosystem and used next-generation DNA sequencing to identify eDNA from 15 fish species, including commonly consumed and rarely monitored ones, as well as a rare European pilchard (Thomsen and Kielgast et al. 2012).
Additionally, eDNA from four bird species was detected, with all species confirmed in national databases. Compared to nine conventional marine survey methods, eDNA provided equal or better coverage of fish diversity. An experiment on eDNA degradation showed that small fragments become undetectable within days, indicating rapid dispersal in ocean waters (Thomsen and Kielgast et al. 2012).
DNA barcode/s used for this study: Mitochondrial gene cytochrome b (cytb)
Sequencing technology: 454 pyrosequencing (Please note that the 454 sequencing platform is no longer available or supported)
To get a deeper insight into this study read the full article: Detection of a Diverse Marine Fish Fauna Using Environmental DNA from Seawater Samples.