Exploring elasmobranch biodiversity in the western Mediterranean and Alboran Sea through eDNA-Based monitoring.

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Autori principali: Coya, Ruth, Fueyo, Álvaro, Ibabe, Aitor, Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B, Esparza, Oscar, García, Raúl, García, José L, Gómez, Miguel, Nieto, Beatriz, Sáez, Jorge, Barría, Claudio, Acle, Susana, Weidberg, Nicolas, Pérez, Trinidad, Miralles, Laura, Borrell, Yaisel J
Natura: Artículo científico
Lingua:en
Pubblicazione: Marine environmental research 2026
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author Coya, Ruth
Fueyo, Álvaro
Ibabe, Aitor
Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B
Esparza, Oscar
García, Raúl
García, José L
Gómez, Miguel
Nieto, Beatriz
Sáez, Jorge
Barría, Claudio
Acle, Susana
Weidberg, Nicolas
Pérez, Trinidad
Miralles, Laura
Borrell, Yaisel J
author_facet Coya, Ruth
Fueyo, Álvaro
Ibabe, Aitor
Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B
Esparza, Oscar
García, Raúl
García, José L
Gómez, Miguel
Nieto, Beatriz
Sáez, Jorge
Barría, Claudio
Acle, Susana
Weidberg, Nicolas
Pérez, Trinidad
Miralles, Laura
Borrell, Yaisel J
Coya, Ruth
Fueyo, Álvaro
Ibabe, Aitor
Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B
Esparza, Oscar
García, Raúl
García, José L
Gómez, Miguel
Nieto, Beatriz
Sáez, Jorge
Barría, Claudio
Acle, Susana
Weidberg, Nicolas
Pérez, Trinidad
Miralles, Laura
Borrell, Yaisel J
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Exploring elasmobranch biodiversity in the western Mediterranean and Alboran Sea through eDNA-Based monitoring. Coya, Ruth Fueyo, Álvaro Ibabe, Aitor Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B Esparza, Oscar García, Raúl García, José L Gómez, Miguel Nieto, Beatriz Sáez, Jorge Barría, Claudio Acle, Susana Weidberg, Nicolas Pérez, Trinidad Miralles, Laura Borrell, Yaisel J Animals Biodiversity Mediterranean Sea Environmental Monitoring DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic DNA, Environmental Elasmobranchii Spain Conservation of Natural Resources Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is increasingly applied for regional biodiversity assessments, yet its effectiveness for detecting mobile, low-density megafauna remains uncertain. This study employed a multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding approach (three primer pairs targeting two mitochondrial genes) across 23 sites in the Spanish Mediterranean, including the Alboran Sea, to (i) to characterise the composition of elasmobranch taxa detected by eDNA metabarcoding across sampling zones, (ii) explore spatial patterns of detection, and (iii) evaluate environmental and spatial drivers of occurrence. Ordination and permutation analyses revealed spatial structuring of overall metazoan communities, primarily driven by bathymetric gradients and proximity to marine reserves. In contrast, elasmobranch assemblages exhibited low spatial turnover. Eleven shark and ray species were detected, several of which are listed under threatened or near threatened IUCN categories, underscoring the conservation value of eDNA detections. Depth emerged as the main predictor of elasmobranch richness and composition, while read abundance showed no consistent association with environmental covariates. This work represents the first regional assessment of elasmobranch diversity in the Alboran and adjacent Mediterranean waters using eDNA metabarcoding, demonstrating its capacity to supplement traditional monitoring approaches. Overall, multi-marker eDNA effectively captures regional biodiversity gradients and detects rare, mobile taxa such as elasmobranchs. To further enhance taxonomic resolution and strengthen eDNA applications in elasmobranch conservation, we recommend three key actions: (i) increasing spatio-temporal replication, (ii) integrating targeted quantitative assays (qPCR/ddPCR), and (iii) improving reference databases.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41863951
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Marine environmental research
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Exploring elasmobranch biodiversity in the western Mediterranean and Alboran Sea through eDNA-Based monitoring.
Coya, Ruth
Fueyo, Álvaro
Ibabe, Aitor
Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B
Esparza, Oscar
García, Raúl
García, José L
Gómez, Miguel
Nieto, Beatriz
Sáez, Jorge
Barría, Claudio
Acle, Susana
Weidberg, Nicolas
Pérez, Trinidad
Miralles, Laura
Borrell, Yaisel J
Animals
Biodiversity
Mediterranean Sea
Environmental Monitoring
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
DNA, Environmental
Elasmobranchii
Spain
Conservation of Natural Resources
Exploring elasmobranch biodiversity in the western Mediterranean and Alboran Sea through eDNA-Based monitoring. Coya, Ruth Fueyo, Álvaro Ibabe, Aitor Suárez-Sánchez, Noelia B Esparza, Oscar García, Raúl García, José L Gómez, Miguel Nieto, Beatriz Sáez, Jorge Barría, Claudio Acle, Susana Weidberg, Nicolas Pérez, Trinidad Miralles, Laura Borrell, Yaisel J Animals Biodiversity Mediterranean Sea Environmental Monitoring DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic DNA, Environmental Elasmobranchii Spain Conservation of Natural Resources Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is increasingly applied for regional biodiversity assessments, yet its effectiveness for detecting mobile, low-density megafauna remains uncertain. This study employed a multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding approach (three primer pairs targeting two mitochondrial genes) across 23 sites in the Spanish Mediterranean, including the Alboran Sea, to (i) to characterise the composition of elasmobranch taxa detected by eDNA metabarcoding across sampling zones, (ii) explore spatial patterns of detection, and (iii) evaluate environmental and spatial drivers of occurrence. Ordination and permutation analyses revealed spatial structuring of overall metazoan communities, primarily driven by bathymetric gradients and proximity to marine reserves. In contrast, elasmobranch assemblages exhibited low spatial turnover. Eleven shark and ray species were detected, several of which are listed under threatened or near threatened IUCN categories, underscoring the conservation value of eDNA detections. Depth emerged as the main predictor of elasmobranch richness and composition, while read abundance showed no consistent association with environmental covariates. This work represents the first regional assessment of elasmobranch diversity in the Alboran and adjacent Mediterranean waters using eDNA metabarcoding, demonstrating its capacity to supplement traditional monitoring approaches. Overall, multi-marker eDNA effectively captures regional biodiversity gradients and detects rare, mobile taxa such as elasmobranchs. To further enhance taxonomic resolution and strengthen eDNA applications in elasmobranch conservation, we recommend three key actions: (i) increasing spatio-temporal replication, (ii) integrating targeted quantitative assays (qPCR/ddPCR), and (iii) improving reference databases.
title Exploring elasmobranch biodiversity in the western Mediterranean and Alboran Sea through eDNA-Based monitoring.
topic Animals
Biodiversity
Mediterranean Sea
Environmental Monitoring
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
DNA, Environmental
Elasmobranchii
Spain
Conservation of Natural Resources
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41863951/