Heterogeneity across Neotropical aquatic environments affects prokaryotic and eukaryotic biodiversity based on environmental DNA

Characterizing biological communities and knowledge on the distribution of biodiversity allows assessment ecological quality. This provides valuable information for conservation biology monitoring purposes. While obtaining such data has been challenging in past, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling represents a promising tool to describe broad taxonomic scale. In this study, we provide first broad-scale ten Neotropical water bodies Nicaragua (a major river, two great lakes, seven relatively young small crater lakes) using eDNA determine how abiotic factors structure prokaryotic eukaryotic across these environments. Further, explored what extent levels are associated different groups We found that α-diversity was consistently higher lakes (i.e., Lakes Managua) as well Río San Juan compared with lakes. Differences (β-diversity) were significantly correlated, indicating similarly structured Accordingly, differences salinity correlated communities, whereas dissolved oxygen only (β-diversity). Yet, affected α-diversity, suggesting effects within aquatic Moreover, phyla positively although more strongly prokaryotes, showing patterns congruent range lineages, particularly prokaryotes.