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Ichthyoplankton DNA metabarcoding: challenges and perspectives
  • Daniel Carvalho
Daniel Carvalho
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

DNA metabarcoding has been widely used to access and monitor species. However, several challenges remain open for its mainstream application in ecological studies, particularly when dealing with a quantitative approach. In a from the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Cédric et al. (2021) report species-level ichthyoplankton dynamics for 97 fish species from two Amazon river basins using a clever quantitative metabarcoding approach employing a probe capture method. They clearly show that most species spawned during the rainy season when the floods started, but interestingly, species from the same genus reproduced in distinct periods (i.e., inverse phenology). Opportunistically, Cédric et al. (2021) reported that during an intense hydrological anomaly, several species had a sharp reduction in spawning activity, demonstrating a quick response to environmental cues. This is an interesting result since the speed at which fish species can react to environmental changes, during the spawning period, is largely unknown. Thus, this study brings remarkable insights into basic life history information that is imperative for proposing strategies that could lead to a realistic framework for sustainable fisheries management practices and conservation, fundamental for an under-studied and threatened realm, such as the Amazon River basin.
19 Oct 2021Submitted to Molecular Ecology
21 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
21 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
05 Nov 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Jan 20221st Revision Received
21 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
24 Jan 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Jan 20222nd Revision Received
31 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Mar 2022Published in Molecular Ecology volume 31 issue 6 on pages 1612-1614. 10.1111/mec.16387