Biodiversity and distribution of zoobenthos in the ecological water replenishment area of the Yellow River estuary coastal wetland revealed by eDNA metabarcoding

with various zoobenthic genera, suggesting a significant influence on the composition and dis- tribution of these communities. In contrast, factors like TDS and EC have fewer and weaker connections, indicating a lesser impact on zoobenthic genera. 4. Discussion 4.1. eDNA metabarcoding and zoobenthic diversity In the field of zoobenthos identification using eDNA metabarcoding, several primers are employed to target specific gene regions for amplifying DNA fragments. The 18S rRNA gene primers, like F04mod F and F04mod R, are highly advantageous due to their conservation across eukaryotic species, offering broad applicability and reliable detection of diverse zoo- benthos [38]. COI gene primers, such as LCO1490 and HCO2198, are widely used for their ability to amplify DNA from a broad range of invertebrates, making them suitable for many benthic organisms [39]. Lastly, the 12S rRNA gene primers, such as MiFish-U/E, while primar- ily used for fish, can also effectively target certain benthic species, adding to the versatility of Fig 4. Co-occurrence network of environmental parameters and individual zoobenthic genera. Red lines represent positive correlations, while blue lines indicate negative correlations. A larger node area signifies a greater number of associated species or environmental factors, and a thicker line denotes a higher correlation coefficient. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315346.g004 PLOS ONE Biodiversity and zoobenthos distribution in yellow river estuary wetlands revealed by eDNA metabarcoding

PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0315346 December 18, 2024 10 / 19