Northwest Atlantic Marine Biodiversity eDNA and Trawl Survey Data

Northwest Atlantic biodiversity data from 54 paired sampling sites compares environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding using four genetic markers with traditional groundfish trawl surveys. The study detected 42 of 66 fish species captured by trawling via eDNA, along with 26 additional fish species, and 17 of 72 invertebrate species via the CO1 marker, plus 98 additional invertebrate species. Data was published in August 2024 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support marine conservation monitoring.

Use Cases

• Compare species detection rates between eDNA metabarcoding and trawl survey methods for fish and invertebrate assemblages.
• Analyze patterns of species turnover and community assemblage using data from four genetic markers (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, CO1).
• Assess gamma and alpha diversity estimates derived from eDNA data against traditional trawl survey baselines.
• Investigate the impact of missing reference sequences on eDNA detection rates for species captured by trawling.

Strengths

• Paired sampling design at 54 sites provides direct methodological comparison between eDNA and trawl surveys.
• Includes data from four distinct genetic markers (12S, 16S, 18S, CO1) for broad taxonomic coverage.
• Quantifies detection rates with specific figures: eDNA detected 42 of 66 trawl-caught fish species and 17 of 72 trawl-caught invertebrate species via CO1.

Limitations

• eDNA missed 24 fish species captured by trawling, with 12 misses attributed to a lack of reference sequences, indicating potential database gaps.
• For invertebrates, only 23.6% of species captured by trawling were detected by the CO1 marker, suggesting lower efficacy for certain taxa.
• Sample size and temporal coverage are not specified, limiting understanding of dataset scale and time range.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystems Science Division.

Collection Method

Paired sampling using groundfish trawls and eDNA metabarcoding of benthic seawater.

Freshness

Data was published in August 2024 and last updated in March 2026, indicating recent maintenance.

Geography

Northwest Atlantic offshore environment.