In their article describing the double-helix structure of the DNA molecule, Watson and Crick, whose breakthrough was made possible by Rosalind Franklin’s critical X-ray diffraction data, wrote: “We wi...

Abstract Genetic diversity, a key component of biodiversity, is often overlooked in conservation actions and there is limited information on how well protected areas currently preserve it, especially ...

Environmental DNA concentrations are affected by animal behavior, such as diel vertical migration (DVM), which has repercussions for designing eDNA sampling strategies. The effect of DVM was identifi....

As natural and anthropogenic disturbances to coastal ecosystems increase in frequency and intensity, the need for efficient and cost-effective biodiversity survey methods also rises. We evaluated the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding for profiling coastal fish diversity in Texas, USA. Our objectives were to (1) characterize coastal fish richness using metabarcoding at 18 sites across 580 km (360 miles) of Texas coastline and (2) compare eDNA results with traditional survey data. Simultaneously, we developed a novel filtration system that applied pre-filtration to increase processed water volume, and we explored relationships between filtered water volume, local environmental characteristics, and eDNA results. Based on Illumina MiSeq sequencing with MiFish Universal primers, we identified 61 fish species. When we compared eDNA detections (i.e., sequencing reads) with traditional sampling results based on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) surveys in 2008, we found no relationship (Spearman’s rank correlation p = 0.484). Rather, eDNA and traditional survey results shared 41 detections in common (species × site combinations); there were 59 species × site combinations for which traditional survey methods detected a species that eDNA did not, and 45 species × site combinations existed where eDNA detected a species that traditional surveys did not. Overall, our Texas case study suggests that eDNA metabarcoding provides a useful addition to the coastal biodiversity assessment toolbox, but rather than replacing traditional survey methods, a combination of eDNA and traditional approaches could serve to maximize the comprehensiveness of coastal fish surveys.

Sharks could struggle to feed themselves efficiently in future, affecting marine ecosystem stability, researchers say

Sharks and rays are globally exploited, with their vulnerability to overfishing leading to many species being classified as endangered. In this study, we combined DNA barcoding and mini-barcoding appr...

A guide to highlighting clades in phylogenetic trees in R

Like all work in the field of Molecular Ecology, our Save Our Seas Foundation funded eagle ray research comprises three broad components: Fieldwork, Labwork, and Bioinformatics (data analysis) Our fir...

Manta and devil rays comprise a vulnerable animal group with a complex nomenclatural history and a somewhat unresolved taxonomy. The existence of a putative undescribed species of manta ray in the Atl...

The MEDDLE data analysis tutorials illustrate statistical approaches for single and multiple driver experiments. The tutorials are not meant as an exhaustive list, nor do they replace formal statistic...

Physalia workshop on Generalized Linear Latent Variable Models by Bert van der Veen - BertvanderVeen/GLLVM-workshop

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a transformative tool for biodiversity monitoring and species detection, yet inconsistent metadata practices hinder data interoperability and reuse. To address...

Whereas preventing species extinctions remains a central objective of conservation efforts, it must be complemented by the long-term preservation of functional ecosystems and of the benefits humans de...

Nature Reviews Biodiversity, Published online: 11 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s44358-025-00040-1Maintaining human well-being in an era of biodiversity loss requires understanding the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function. We argue that absolute abundance can drive ecosystem function and that this measure should be considered alongside traditional measures of biodiversity.

Morais et al. evaluate the history of Darwin’s paradox and the prevalence of oligotrophic conditions among coral reefs. They find no link between Darwin and the marine oasis concept. Most coral reefs ...

Biodiversity resilience relies on genetic diversity, which sustains the evolutionary potential of organisms in dynamic ecosystems. Genomics is a powerful tool for accurately estimating genetic divers....

It’s been 50 years since fear gripped the fictional beaches of Amity Island and fixated in swimmers’ minds at public beaches and in concrete swimming pools. We ask what the enduring legacy of this sto...