Document of bibliographic reference 405846

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Exploring species and functional diversity of fishes in Cambodian coastal habitats using eDNA metabarcoding

Abstract

Previous studies investigating marine fish diversity in Cambodia’s coastal ecosystems focused on visual methods, concentrating on reporting ecologically and economically important indicator taxa. This study, however, presents the first comprehensive assessment of marine fish biodiversity along the coast of two regions in Cambodia using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods. Water samples were collected above coral reefs, seagrass meadows, estuarine sites and open water in the Northern Koh Kong region and the Koh Rong Archipelago, a marine national park. A region of the 12S rDNA was targeted for fish diversity. Additionally, for the detection of marine mammals, 16S ribosomal DNA was amplified. A total of 204 unique fish species were identified across 78 families and 17 orders, revealing significant differences in species richness and community composition across different habitat types and sampling locations. Functional diversity analyses categorized species into 18 distinct functional groups, shedding light on their ecological roles within the investigated habitats. Comparison with existing fish surveys and databases highlighted the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding in providing comparable or better biodiversity estimates. The study also identified two marine mammal species, including the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, emphasizing the importance of eDNA in detecting elusive and threatened species. The study highlights the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding for marine biodiversity monitoring, offering valuable baseline data for conservation efforts in Cambodia and beyond, supporting the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) to safeguard marine biodiversity. Advocating for the designation of Koh Kong as an MPA, the research points to its rich biodiversity, endangered species presence, and unique functional composition, suggesting its potential as a focal point for conservation initiatives.

Bibliographic citation

Clay, C.G.; Gösser, F.; Glue, M.; Long, M.; Rog, S.M.; Sinovas, P.; Reimer, J.D. (2025). Exploring species and functional diversity of fishes in Cambodian coastal habitats using eDNA metabarcoding. Coral Reefs 44(1): 221-241. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02599-1

Is peer reviewed

true