This study investigates bacterial community dynamics associated with environmental DNA degradation in water containing live and dead fish over different time intervals
Environmental DNA eDNA has emerged as a powerful non invasive tool for detecting organisms and monitoring biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. However persistence and degradation of eDNA in aquatic environments are influenced by microbial activity and environmental conditions. The present study investigates the relationship between bacterial community dynamics and degradation of fish derived environmental DNA in controlled aquatic systems. Water samples were collected from aquaria containing live fish and from aquaria containing dead fish to examine microbial succession during eDNA degradation. Sampling was conducted at different time points: 12 hr, 24 hr, 36 hr, and 48 hr to evaluate temporal changes in bacterial communities. Bacterial diversity was analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing using Illumina sequencing technology. The objective of this study is to identify bacterial taxa associated with early and late stages of eDNA degradation and to compare microbial community structure between live fish water and dead fish water systems. Understanding microbial mediated degradation of environmental DNA will improve interpretation of eDNA based monitoring methods used for aquatic biodiversity assessment. This dataset provides valuable information on bacterial diversity and microbial succession associated with environmental DNA persistence and degradation in freshwater aquatic environments