Environmental DNA as a cost-efficient alternative method to fish monitoring in high-energy environments

In this study, we assessed the efficiency of eDNA compared to conventional methods following two axes: 1) comparison of the costs of conducting fish surveys with eDNA, beach seine, and scuba divers; and 2) biodiversity survey in a tidal channel using eDNA and underwater images. We used an eDNA metabarcoding approach to characterize the eDNA background signature due to the presence of marine species on and around a bottom mounted artificial structure as well as a floating dock in a tidal channel, in lieu of an actual MRE converter.