Distinct latitudinal community patterns of Arctic marine vertebrates along the East Greenlandic coast detected by environmental <scp>DNA</scp>

Aim Greenland is one of the places on Earth where effects climate change are most evident. The retreat sea ice has made East more accessible for longer periods during year. fjords have been notoriously difficult to study due their remoteness, dense conditions and lack infrastructure. As a result, biological monitoring across latitudinal gradients scarce in relies sporadic research cruises trawl data from commercial vessels. We here aim investigate transition fish marine mammal communities South Northeast using environmental DNA (eDNA). Location Greenland. Methods investigated eDNA metabarcoding seawater samples. included both surface mesopelagic samples, collected over approximately 2400 km waterway distance, by sampling Cape Farewell Ella Island August 2021. Results demonstrate clear south northeast, with detected species matching known distributions. Samples southern areas were dominated capelin (Mallotus villosus) redfish (Sebastes), whereas northeastern samples polar cod (Boreogadus saida), sculpins (Myoxocephalus) ringed seal (Pusa hispida). provide newly generated 12S rRNA barcodes 87 species, bringing public database closer full taxonomic coverage Greenlandic this locus. Main Conclusions Our results that can detect shifts Arctic region, which supplement traditional surveys understanding distributions community compositions vertebrates. Importantly, be feasible approach detecting northward range expansions remote as progresses.