eDNA metabarcoding: a non-invasive method to track temporal community dynamics in temporary rivers
Temporary rivers TRs are dynamic ecosystems that alternate between hydrological phases i.e., Àowing, disconnected pools, and dry). They are conservation refugia for aquatic species during dry seasons but are often neglected in bioassessment programs. To assess the biological quality of these ecosyst...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión aceptada para publicación |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/417283 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/417283 https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105028627376 |
| Access Level: | acceso embargado |
| Palabra clave: | Intermittent rivers Aquatic macroinvertebrates Disconnected pools Meiofauna http://metadata.un.org/sdg/9 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/12 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/3 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/6 http://metadata.un.org/sdg/11 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns |
| Sumario: | Temporary rivers TRs are dynamic ecosystems that alternate between hydrological phases i.e., Àowing, disconnected pools, and dry). They are conservation refugia for aquatic species during dry seasons but are often neglected in bioassessment programs. To assess the biological quality of these ecosystems, morphological methods can be invasive, disrupting communities and diminishing their function as refugia. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provides a minimally invasive method, gathering community information from eDNA in water or sediment. We tested the effectiveness of eDNA methods alongside bulk DNA metabarcoding to characterize the macroinvertebrate communities and assess the biological quality of disconnected pools in TRs, comparing them with morphological methods. Additionally, we tested how the community patterns evolve over time using eDNA and how community composition shifts during disconnection. Biological quality was determined through macroinvertebrate indices widely used in Spain (i.e., IBMWP, family richness, and IASPT). eDNA samples were collected biweekly from three TRs in Catalonia, NE Spain. Macroinvertebrates were sampled during the three hydrological phases (connected, disconnecting, and disconnected pools). Macroinvertebrate samples were used to identify organisms using morphology and to sequence bulk DNA. eDNA and bulk DNA samples were analysed via DNA metabarcoding targeting the mitochondrial COI gene. Although communities determined by sediment eDNA did not detect variations in biotic indices (i.e., IBMWP and family richness), the method was useful to detect the replacement of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) by OCH (Odonata, Coleoptera, Heteroptera). Additionally, sediment eDNA revealed signi¿cant impacts of hydrological changes on meiofauna Ostracoda, Cladocera, Copepoda, a group often overlooked in stream assessments. These results indicate that sediment eDNA metabarcoding can serve as a valuable tool for the bioassessment of TRs, capturing the transitions between hydrological phases while preserving ecosystem integrity. |
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