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MARINFORSKHAV-Marine ressurser og miljø - havmiljø

Environmental DNA (eDNA) mapping and monitoring of marine fjord resources and biodiversity.

Alternative title: eDNA kartlegging og overvåking av biodiversitet og marine ressurser

Awarded: NOK 7.4 mill.

Project Number:

301691

Application Type:

Project Period:

2020 - 2024

Location:

Partner countries:

Growing pressures from man-made activities in the fjords, including aquaculture, require dedicated management methods, designed to ensure sustainable use of the fjords. An example is ecosystem-based holistic management. For this purpose, it is important to properly map and monitor fjord resources. To achieve this, we need a new monitoring tool. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is cells and DNA debris that organisms release into the environment. This DNA can be isolated and used for species identification, based on different types of sequencing (Barcoding). Based in a sample from the environment we can identify species composition in the fjord. eDNA has been developed as a cost-effective tool for biological mapping and monitoring in many habitats, but large-scale monitoring of biological diversity and structure in the marine environment has not yet been evaluated. In FISHDIV, we will test eDNA from filtered seawater as a monitoring tool in both fisheries management and impact studies of aquaculture through an optimized sampling design. At Institute of Marine Research (IMR) we conduct annual surveys in the autumn to assess fisheries and biodiversity in the fjords in Northern Norway, but we have little knowledge of annual variations in the fjords. Sampling methods such as trawling are costly, and for each of the fjords we base our monitoring from only a few trawl hauls. This means that rare species, species that avoid trawling or occupy untrawlable habitats can be missed. Thus, we risk an incomplete overview of biodiversity and hence ecosystem structure. eDNA will effectively offer a cost- and time-efficient way to monitor biodiversity in fjords throughout the year, without compromising on data quality. If proven to be valid in fjord habitats, the eDNA approach may contribute to a multidisciplinary approach in marine science and management where traditional and resource-intensive sampling tools limit our capacity to find answers to basic ecological questions.

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Growing pressures from anthropogenic activities in fjords, including aquaculture, calls for dedicated management approaches, designed to secure sustainable use of the oceans, such as ecosystem-based holistic management. For this purpose, specific efforts to map and monitor fjord resources and biodiversity, with increased and improved data flow is needed. To achieve this, we need new monitoring tools. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been developed as a powerful and cost-efficient tool for biological mapping and monitoring in many types of habitats, also marine, but the application for large scale monitoring of biodiversity and biological structure in this environment is yet to be evaluated. In FISHDIV we seek to increase our knowledge of fish biodiversity by optimizing sampling design and demonstrate the usefulness of eDNA. We want to improve our monitoring tools for both fisheries management and effect studies of aquaculture, such as before-after-control-impact (BACI) studies. IMR conducts annual trawl-acoustic surveys to assess fish abundance and diversity along the coast of Northern Norway (ECOKYST). This sampling approach is cost intensive and for each of the fjords IMR measure biodiversity based on only a few trawl hauls in each fjord, together with the acoustic estimates. This implies that rare species or species that occupy untrawlable habitats can be missed. Thus, risking an incomplete overview of the biodiversity and hence ecosystem structure. eDNA will effectively provide a solution to monitor fish abundance and diversity in fjords throughout the year, in a cost and time efficient manner, without compromising data quality. If proven valid in fjord habitats, the eDNA approach can alter or contribute to a multidisciplinary approach in marine science and management where traditional and resource demanding sampling tools limit our capacity to address fundamentally important questions.

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MARINFORSKHAV-Marine ressurser og miljø - havmiljø