Studying the retention time of Fenneropenaeus chinensis eDNA in water

Abstract:

Accurate knowledge of species distribution and population dynamics is the basis of conservation biology. However, for certain species that have a special life history and very few populations, species distribution detection becomes extremely difficult. The combination of DNA barcode technology and environmental DNA (eDNA) has solved these difficulties. Currently, this method has been applied successfully to biological testing, biodiversity assessment, biomass assessment, fish migration, and other research. Given the ease of degradation of eDNA and its low level in the environment, exploring its persistence in the environment is critical for accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, Fenneropenaeus chinensis was used as the research subject. The degradation of eDNA in a water environment was quantitatively analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The relationship between eDNA degradation rate and time was explored. The most suitable eDNA was selected based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A statistical model of degradation of eDNA over time was used. The experimental results showed that the level of eDNA in water is negatively correlated with time. After the source of eDNA was removed, its residence time in the environment was about one month. The aim of this research was to provide a theoretical basis for the qualitative detection and quantitative assessment of rationally planned species, with a view to minimizing experimental error caused by human factors.