Ms Yijin Lee1, Ms Haruhi Narisoko1, Prof. Nori Satoh1
1Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Okinawa, Japan
Biography:
Yijin Lee double majored in Japanese Language and Literature and Biological Science at Pusan National University. Her fascination with subtropical and tropical ecosystems, like mangrove forests and coral reefs, led her to Japan, where she completed her MSc at the University of Tokyo, studying mudskippers (Periophthalmus modestus) in Tokyo Bay. This growing interest in gobies brought her to Okinawa, where she is now in her second year of a Ph.D. in the Marine Climate and Marine Genomics Units. Yijin's research focuses on monitoring fish diversity in coral restoration sites in Okinawa using environmental DNA (eDNA) and studying the effects of marine temperature changes on clownfish through transcriptomics and metabolomics.
Abstract:
Environmental DNA metabarcoding is a powerful method for monitoring marine biodiversity, though thorough validation is needed before it is used for ecological monitoring in the field. A key part of this approach is developing primer pairs that can amplify eDNA from specific taxonomic groups, allowing accurate species identification through eDNA sequencing. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of two eDNA 12S primers, MiFish-U and Teleo, for detecting fish species in a semi-controlled aquarium setting. The goal was to test these primers in studies of an Okinawan coral restoration project.
This research was conducted at the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa, Japan, in an exhibit that contains 89 species and 48 genera of tropical-subtropical coral reef fish with live corals in filtered natural seawater. Triplicate 10L water samples were collected from both the exhibit and the filtered water reservoir. The list of fish species provided by the aquarium was then compared with the eDNA results from both primers.
This study highlights the importance of controlled experiments with known species before investing in large-scale biodiversity assessments using eDNA metabarcoding. By testing these primers in a semi-controlled environment that uses natural seawater and includes a known species list, our research provides valuable insights into the reliability and practical use of eDNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring. These findings will help guide protocols in future research of coral reef conservation and fish diversity assessment, offering useful tools for researchers working with eDNA in similar environments.