Applications of environmental DNA methods for charophyte biodiversity

The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for qualitative species inventories offers great potential as a cost-effective tool identification. This requires that the target release DNA, reference information is available and detection methods exist. Environmental analyses are currently used routinely to inventory fish fauna (Wang et al. 2021), molluscs (Klymus 2017) or insects (Uchida 2020). For other groups, such macrophytes, there not much (Scriver 2015). In plants, identifying suitable eDNA markers been more challenging, no single region has accepted purposes barcoding. Within this project, we assessed if stoneworts (Charophytes, Characeae) can be detected by using analysis it support macrophyte monitoring. Charophytes macroscopic green algae which, because their role habitat engineers, special importance aquatic ecosystems. Many charophyte bound clean, nutrient-poor fresh brackish waters (e.g. Melzer 1999) regarded bioindicators water quality national international directives Habitats Directive, EU Water Framework Directive). Being sensitive anthropogenic pressures, drastic decline in populations with increasing eutrophication reported (Sand-Jensen . However, diversity Characeae often underestimated due difficulties morphological determination, genetic identification charophytes established only recent few years Nowak 2016). We utility document species. from lake (Dreetzsee, Germany, 2018) site (Darß-Zingst Lagoon System, was extracted filtered ethanol‐precipitated samples, designed tested based on four regions chloroplast genome - atp B, rbc L, psb C, matK Of regions, L were most likely amplify Both sites exhibit diverse flora, which successfully could identify species/group level analysis. current study, developed scrutinize population Schlei estuary (Germany, Schleswig-Holstein). Since conventional monitoring carried out once year at sites, have observed years, very sporadically. As possible survey entire Schlei, especially high turbidity, methodology assess presence