Coastal Invertebrate eDNA Detection in Haute-Côte-Nord 2018

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys from 40 water sampling stations between Forestville and Godbout, Quebec, in August 2018, provide a list of invertebrate species detected using the COI genetic marker. The data includes generic activity information such as site, station name, date, marker type, and taxonomic assignments verified by an expert from the Maurice-Lamontagne Institute. This project was funded by Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Coastal Environmental Baseline Data Program.

Use Cases

• Analyze the distribution of detected invertebrate taxa across the 40 sampling stations and depth ranges (9-52 meters) to map biodiversity.
• Use the taxonomic assignment types and marker type (COI) fields to validate or compare species identification methods from eDNA sequences.
• Correlate species detection lists with site and date information to study seasonal or spatial patterns in coastal invertebrate communities.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a rigorous protocol including negative field, extraction, and PCR controls to minimize contamination.
• Taxonomic assignments were performed using a specialized COI reference database (GSL-rl v1.0) for the Gulf of St. Lawrence and verified by a biodiversity expert.
• Surveys cover 40 distinct sampling stations across a defined coastal transect, providing spatial breadth for analysis.

Limitations

• The dataset's temporal scope is limited to a single sampling period in August 2018, lacking multi-year or seasonal comparisons.
• Sample data and specific column definitions are unavailable, limiting understanding of the data structure and available features.
• The focus on the COI marker and invertebrate species may not capture the full biodiversity present, excluding other taxonomic groups or genetic markers.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Environmental Baseline Data Program.

Collection Method

eDNA extracted from 2-liter water samples filtered at 40 stations, sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq system, and analyzed with a bioinformatics pipeline (DADA2, IDTAXA classifier).

Time Range

August 11-14, 2018.

Freshness

Data reflects conditions from 2018, with metadata last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Coastal waters between Forestville and Godbout, Haute-Côte-Nord, Quebec, Canada.