EDNA metabarcoding reveals a rich but threatened and declining elasmobranch community in West Africa’s largest marine protected area, the Banc d’Arguin

A groundbreaking study using eDNA metabarcoding has uncovered a rich but severely threatened elasmobranch (shark and ray) community within the Banc d'Arguin National Park, West Africa's largest marine protected area. The research identified 27 species, including 12 new records for the region, while also revealing potential undescribed species of Gymnura and Torpedo. Notably, the study corrected taxonomic misidentifications and highlighted significant local extinction or rarity of previously abundant species like sawfishes, wedgefishes, and lemon sharks. Alarmingly, 67.9% of detected elasmobranch species are currently listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. The study employed a dual approach combining morphological and molecular identification with eDNA analysis to build a comprehensive genetic reference database, providing critical baseline data for future conservation efforts.

de la Hoz Schilling, C., Jabado, R. W., Veríssimo, A., Caminiti, L., Sidina, E., Gandega, C. Y., & Serrão, E. A. (2024). eDNA metabarcoding reveals a rich but threatened and declining elasmobranch community in West Africa’s largest marine protected area, the Banc d’Arguin. Conservation Genetics, 25(3), 805–821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-024-01604-y