Community-based eDNA metabarcoding for monitoring fish biodiversity and food webs in the Peace-Athabasca Delta

A pilot study using community-based eDNA metabarcoding in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) successfully detected 15 fish species, including key dietary components of Lake Whitefish, demonstrating the potential of molecular tools to enhance biodiversity monitoring and food web assessments. The research, conducted in collaboration with Indigenous Governments, Parks Canada, and GEN-FISH, employed two mitochondrial markers (COI and 12S) to analyze eDNA samples collected across 15 locations. While COI provided broader taxonomic coverage, detecting birds, mammals, and invertebrates, 12S offered greater specificity for fish. The findings highlight the readiness of these molecular techniques to support the Integrated Research and Monitoring Program's assessment of PAD health, addressing critical knowledge gaps in fish diversity and distribution within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Milián-García, Y., Giroux, P., Docker, M., Khan, A., Jeffries, K. M., Lindsay, K., Gray, Q., Voyageur, M., Maclean, B., Bampfylde, C., Pyne, C., & Hanner, R. H. (2026). Community-based eDNA metabarcoding for monitoring fish biodiversity and food webs in the Peace-Athabasca Delta. PeerJ, 14, e21341. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.21341