title: Environmental DNA reveals that rivers are conveyer belts of biodiversity information.
abstract: DNA sampled from the environment (eDNA) is a useful way to uncover biodiversity patterns. By combining a conceptual model and empirical data, we test whether eDNA transported in river networks can be used as an integrative way to assess eukaryotic biodiversity for broad spatial scales and across the land-water interface. Using an eDNA metabarcode approach, we detect 296 families of eukaryotes, spanning 19 phyla across the catchment of a river. We show for a subset of these families that eDNA samples overcome spatial autocorrelation biases associated with the classical community assessments by integrating biodiversity information over space. In addition, we demonstrate that many terrestrial species are detected; thus suggesting eDNA in river water also incorporates biodiversity information across terrestrial and aquatic biomes. Environmental DNA transported in river networks offers a novel and spatially integrated way to assess the total biodiversity for whole landscapes and will transform biodiversity data acquisition in ecology.
authors: Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.|Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 290B Galvin Life Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
authors: Kristy
authors: K
authors: Deiner
authors: Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.|Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Emanuel A
authors: EA
authors: Fronhofer
authors: Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.|Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Mächler
authors: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, Genetic Diversity Centre, CHN E 55 Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Jean-Claude
authors: JC
authors: Walser
authors: Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.|Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Altermatt
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics*; D045483:Rivers
chemical_list: D004247:DNA