title: Annual time-series analysis of aqueous eDNA reveals ecologically relevant dynamics of lake ecosystem biodiversity.
abstract: The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) in biodiversity assessments offers a step-change in sensitivity, throughput and simultaneous measures of ecosystem diversity and function. There remains, however, a need to examine eDNA persistence in the wild through simultaneous temporal measures of eDNA and biota. Here, we use metabarcoding of two markers of different lengths, derived from an annual time series of aqueous lake eDNA to examine temporal shifts in ecosystem biodiversity and in an ecologically important group of macroinvertebrates (Diptera: Chironomidae). The analyses allow different levels of detection and validation of taxon richness and community composition (β-diversity) through time, with shorter eDNA fragments dominating the eDNA community. Comparisons between eDNA, community DNA, taxonomy and UK species abundance data further show significant relationships between diversity estimates derived across the disparate methodologies. Our results reveal the temporal dynamics of eDNA and validate the utility of eDNA metabarcoding for tracking seasonal diversity at the ecosystem scale.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
authors.forename: Iliana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bista
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology &Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajibabaei
authors.affiliation: GABI, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lallias
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christmas
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Creer
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004247:DNA