Environmental <scp>DNA</scp> reflects common haplotypic variation

Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has gained widespread usage for taxonomically based biodiversity assessment. While interest in applying noninvasive eDNA monitoring population genetic assessments grown, its this sphere remains limited. One barrier to uptake is that the effectiveness detection below species level be determined multiple and environments. Here, we test utility emergent technology obtain within-species haplotypic variation New Zealand (NZ) blackfoot p?ua (Haliotis iris). We compare mitochondrial haplotype diversity recovered from marine samples against traditional tissue collected at same NZ coastal site. Targeting ATP8-ATP6 region, four haplotypes versus six samples. Three common were with both samples, while only one out three rare – represented by individual each was our methods. demonstrate an effective tool recovering p?ua, although (<5%) are seldom recovered. Our results show potential identify population-level gastropods environment level. This work demonstrates methods can effective, monitoring. Noninvasive sampling could minimize target organism stress human interaction enabling research hard-to-sample, delicate, or sensitive species.