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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Mar. Sci.
Sec. Marine Molecular Biology and Ecology
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1351148

Evaluating zooplankton species diversity using environmental DNA and bulk-DNA metabarcoding in the Ulleung Basin of the Southeastern Korean Peninsula in the summer

Provisionally accepted
Jae Ho Choi Jae Ho Choi 1,2Sung Kim Sung Kim 1,3*Choong-Gon Kim Choong-Gon Kim 1,3*
  • 1 Ocean Science and Technology School, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Republic of Korea
  • 2 Ocean Climate Response & Ecosystem Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Busan, Republic of Korea
  • 3 Korea Ocean Satellite Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), Busan, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Accurately investigating the composition of zooplankton species is crucial for monitoring changes in marine ecosystems and assessing biodiversity. In this study, we utilized bulk DNA and environmental DNA metabarcoding in the Ulleung Basin, known for its high zooplankton species diversity among the seas surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Genomic DNA extracted from samples collected during three summer seasons in the survey area was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase I barcode region. We identified 350 species, which were three to six times more than those identified by traditional morphological methods. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in species composition and diversity between bulk DNA and eDNA samples. Notably, eDNA metabarcoding effectively detected species with high swimming ability and those that were difficult to capture using traditional sampling methods. This study underscores the significant impact of sampling methods on research outcomes in zooplankton species diversity studies and highlights the importance of integrating different sampling techniques. Specifically, it suggests the need for the active adoption of non-invasive methods, such as eDNA metabarcoding, for the comprehensive monitoring of diverse biological groups in marine ecosystems.

    Keywords: Zooplankton, species diversity, environmental DNA (eDNA), Bulk DNA, DNA metabarcoding

    Received: 06 Dec 2023; Accepted: 09 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Choi, Kim and Kim. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Sung Kim, Ocean Science and Technology School, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Republic of Korea
    Choong-Gon Kim, Ocean Science and Technology School, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.