Elasmobranchs’ metabarcoding requires a pragmatic approach to reach its promises

Abstract

Human impacts have been eroding marine ecosystems in such a way that biodiversity patterns are changing. Therefore, policies and science-based solutions are indispensable for monitoring threats to the most impacted species. In such effort, the analysis of elasmobranchs' environmental traces via eDNA metabarcoding represent a candidate tool for effective monitoring and conservation that is often advocated to be cost-effective and easily replicated. Here, we tested a realistic approach to monitor future changes through elasmobranchs' metabarcoding with published primers, in which, elasmobranch diversity from the coastal waters of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Brazil) was studied here. We detected a total of three elasmobranch species, namely Hypanus berthalutzae, Ginglymostoma cirratum, and Prionace glauca among numerous other fish species. Even though the technique proved to be a useful tool, some practical constraints were identified, and primarily caused by currently published environmental primers. In order to ensure the broad application of the method, we pointed out feasible adjustments to the problematic parameters based on our survey and other elasmobranch metabarcoding studies. The current drawbacks of the approach need to be considered by managers, conservation actors, and researchers, who are considering this methodology in order to avoid unrealistic promises for the cost incurred.