Abstract:
Global biodiversity is increasingly threatened by extensive forest conversion. It makes the effective monitoring, evaluation, and restoration Marine biodiversity is rapidly declining due to anthropogenic activities, yet the key drivers remain elusive, necessitating fine-scale temporal observations that are logistically challenging with traditional methods. Hong Kong, a region of high biodiversity and human density, exemplifies the need for effective monitoring to balance development and conservation. Advances in environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding provide a powerful and innovative approach for assessing biodiversity across temporal scales, offering advantages such as improved detection of cryptic species and expanded spatial-temporal scope. In our recent study, we utilized eDNA to assess marine benthic community dynamics through a full factorial mesocosm experiment using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) colonized from Hong Kong sites. This talk will explore key aspects influencing marine eDNA dynamics, including community establishment, temporal impacts of anthropogenic stressors, and variations in eDNA decay rates across species and treatment conditions. Overall, we demonstrate that eDNA metabarcoding provides a detailed and nuanced assessment of biodiversity, enabling the differentiation of spatiotemporal and anthropogenic impacts on community dynamics.
Speaker: Assistant Professor Mathew Seymour
Affiliation: The University of Hong Kong
Time: 3:00 PM, Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Venue: Offline: The Conference Hall in Xishuangbanna Headquarter
Online: Tencent Meeting ID：354 443 862
