Vertebrate Biodiversity via eDNA at the air-water interface
Cross-medium environmental DNA transfer between water and air.This dataset contains paired air and water eDNA metabarcoding samples collected at two urban-wildland interface sites to quantify vertebrate DNA transfer between aquatic and atmospheric compartments.Sampling: 27 paired samples collected across temporal gradients during salmon spawning season. Passive air samplers (open-water trays exposed 24h) and active water filtering (1L grab samples, filtered on-site through 5.0 um MCE filters).Molecular methods: DNA extracted using Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit. Vertebrate 12S rRNA metabarcoding with MiFish-U primers, one-step PCR, Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing. Taxonomic assignment via BLAST with LCA approach.Dataset summary: 35 vertebrate taxa detected, 40% in both media. Includes strictly aquatic (salmon) and terrestrial (mammals, birds) species. Data demonstrates predictable, abundance-dependent eDNA transfer between water and air.