?Towards harmonization of DNA metabarcoding for monitoring marine macrobenthos: the effect of technical replicates and pooled DNA extractions on species detection

DNA-based monitoring methods are potentially faster and cheaper compared to traditional morphological benthic identification. DNA metabarcoding involves various methodological choices which can introduce bias leading a different outcome in biodiversity patterns. Therefore, it is important harmonize protocols allow comparison across studies this requires good understanding of the effect on diversity estimates. This study investigated impact PCR replicates detection macrobenthos species locations with high, medium low diversity. Our results show that two three were needed high detect at least 80% found six replicates, while four location In contrast general belief, larger body size or higher abundance sample did not increase its prevalence among replicates. However, rare less consistently detected all further pooling significantly alter patterns, although small number was lost. Finally, our confirm variation between especially for species. These contribute create reliable, time cost efficient characterization macrobenthos.