Ms Jing Yang1, Dr Jinping Cheng1
1The Education University Of Hong Kong, New Territory, Hong Kong
Biography:
Jing Yang is a PhD student in Marine Science at The Education University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on marine biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, with particular interests in fish biodiversity assessment, coral reef ecosystems, and the integration of molecular and conventional survey methods for marine conservation. Her work aims to advance non-invasive and standardized approaches for long-term biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem management.
Abstract:
Effective biodiversity monitoring is fundamental for marine conservation, particularly in vulnerable coral reef ecosystems where conventional survey methods can be labour-intensive, invasive, and limited in their ability to detect rare or cryptic species. Environmental DNA (eDNA) matabarcoding offers a non-destructive, non-invasive approach to biodiversity assessment with minimal disturbance to sensitive habitats. Growing evidence suggests that combining eDNA with traditional survey methods provides a more comprehensive understanding of marine communities and improves conservation outcomes. This study investigated fish biodiversity in a subtropical coral ecosystem in Hong Kong by combining eDNA macrobarcoding with underwater visual surveys (UVS). While core fish communities were detected at all sampling sites, eDNA revealed significant spatial differences in reef-associated and priority-protection species, highlighting areas of high ecological and conservation value that might be overlooked by individual monitoring methods. Compared to using either method alone, the combination of eDNA and UVS provides a more comprehensive assessment of community composition and enhances coverage in biodiversity estimates across the entire study area. This study provides practical evidence for implementing a complementary biodiversity monitoring framework to assess and protect subtropical marine ecosystems in the long term by integrating molecular and traditional survey methods.