An Assessment of Seasonal Differences in Fish Populations in Laizhou Bay Using Environmental DNA and Conventional Resource Survey Techniques

Abstract

In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has gradually improved, and it has been increasingly used to monitor marine fish. The decline and seasonal fluctuations of fish resources in Laizhou Bay, Bohai were studied using eDNA technology and compared with the results of conventional fish resource survey methods. In November 2020 (autumn), March 2021 (spring), and July 2021 (summer), 12 samples were collected each quarter in Laizhou Bay and adjacent waters for a total of 36 eDNA samples, and 47 fish species were identified. During the same trip, ground cages, gillnets, and trawls were used during two seasons. Fishery resource surveys were conducted at 12 sites from November 2020 (autumn) to March 2021 (spring), and in total 11 fish species were found. Our study found that fishery resources in Laizhou Bay significantly fluctuated with seasonal changes. Additionally, compared with traditional surveys, eDNA information included the same results, but also included fish that could not be collected because of the technical limitations of traditional surveys. Therefore, this study provides more accurate seasonal information for fish in Laizhou Bay, which is of great significance for the long-term management and conservation of coastal biodiversity.