A Comparison of Fish Diversity in Rocky Reef Habitats by Multi-Mesh Gillnets and Environmental DNA Metabarcoding

This study was undertaken in order to explore the practical effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach evaluating fish composition and diversity a high heterogeneous rocky reef habitat. We assessed characteristics habitat at Dachen Islands, Taizhou Zhejiang Province China November 2020 by comparing two methods: multi-mesh gillnets eDNA. A comparative analysis carried out on gained under methods using taxonomy, ecotypes indices. The results showed that there were 28 species collected through gillnets, distributed 24 genera, 19 families, 6 orders one class. Among them, 4, 18, near-surface, near groundfish found, respectively, with Thryssa mystax, Johnius belangerii , Sebastiscus marmoratus being dominant each water layer. total 81 detected eDNA belonging 67 46 15 2 classes. 17, 42, 22, vitrirostris, Benthosema pterotum, Harpadon nehereus Dasyatis akajei Twenty (71.4%) 41 (50.6%) counted eDNA, respectively. can accurately obtain information habitats, but some selectivity. technology detect not number areas fast velocity is significantly less than other stations where slow. In summary, combination traditional nets will provide more taxonomic population biomass, transforming natural resource management ecological studies communities larger spatial temporal scale.