Abstract
In a rapidly changing Arctic, the Kongsfjorden marine ecosystem was investigated to explore its community composition and structural dynamics using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Samples were collected with metaprobes, passive eDNA samplers deployed within fish traps in the coastal zone and towed along a transect in the mid-fjord zone. Mitochondrial COI and ribosomal 18 S SSU (V8-V9 region) genes were amplified to characterize metazoan and protist communities, respectively. Community analysis highlighted significant differences between coastal and mid-fjord sites (ANOSIM, R = 0.7, p < 0.05), identifying 23 taxa as indicators of one of the two zones. Taxa identified through metabarcoding were used as nodes in trophic networks, while feeding relationships (producer–consumer and predator–prey) were reconstructed through literature review. Qualitative food webs were obtained for each sampling site and for the coastal and mid-fjord zones. The networks were characterized using key trophic indicators and differences emerged in the apical part of the webs. Overall, eDNA proved to be a sensitive and effective tool for detecting spatial differences in community structure. This approach also shows strong potential for long-term monitoring, offering a rapid, cost-effective, and scalable alternative to traditional methods.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the Arctic research base Dirigibile Italia (Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard), managed by CNR-ISP, for the logistical and operational support provided during the VECNA 2023 field activities. Special thanks are extended to the station leader, Simonetta Montaguti, for her coordination and assistance during the survey. This research was financially supported by the Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (CNR-IRBIM), which contributed to the implementation of the VECNA 2023 sampling survey.
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Open access funding provided by CNR-IRBIM. Authors declare that the research did not receive funding.
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Fish sampling was carried out in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) under the regulatory framework of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act (Act of 15 June 2001, No. 79). Following consultation with the Governor of Svalbard (ref. 23/00632-3, dated 24 February 2023), the activity was assessed and confirmed to not require special permission under this Act. All field activities were conducted in compliance with the general rules for fieldwork in Svalbard issued by the Governor’s office. Non-target fish species were immediately returned alive to the water. Target specimens were euthanised by spinal cord transection at the base of the skull, performed by a licensed veterinarian present on board, in accordance with accepted humane methods for fish euthanasia.
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Piroli, C., Marinchel, N., Galli, S. et al. Application of eDNA metabarcoding for high-resolution reconstruction of the trophic web of an Arctic fjord.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-73554-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-73554-z
Keywords
- DNA
- Environmental
- Metabarcoding
- Food web
- Biodiversity
- Arctic regions
Source: Ecology - nature.com
