MEPS prepress abstract   -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14650

ABSTRACT: Biodiversity in coastal marine environments is under unprecedented threat from anthropogenic impacts, calling for cost-effective and expedient survey methods. The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) – typically obtained through artificially filtered water samples – can paint a detailed picture of fish diversity in marine coastal environments. More recently, the analysis of natural sampler DNA (nsDNA, based on filter-feeding invertebrates that naturally trap eDNA in their tissues) has emerged as a potential alternative to water filtering. In this study, we investigate the widely distributed beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) as a potential natural eDNA sampler. Anemone samples were collected from two coastal locations in the United Kingdom: Rhosneigr – Anglesey, North Wales, and New Brighton – Wirral, North-western England. Sampling took place over two different months, and samples were compared to concomitantly sampled water. DNA metabarcoding via 12S Tele02 fish-specific primers revealed successful detection of a range of fish and other vertebrate species. We observed differences in species detected between conventional eDNA and sea anemone nsDNA samples, as well as a significant difference in seasonality detected through nsDNA. Our results indicate that the beadlet anemone can be a successful natural eDNA sampler, but that its value is more likely to reside in its complementarity alongside established eDNA methods.