To avoid loss of genetic information in environmental DNA (eDNA) field samples, the preservation of nucleic acids during field sampling is a critical step. In the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for eDNA-based compliance monitoring, the effect of different routinely used sediment preservations on biological community structures serving as bioindicators has gone untested. We compared eDNA metabarcoding results of marine bacterial communities from sample aliquots that were treated with a nucleic acid preservation solution (treated samples) and aliquots that were frozen without further treatment (non-treated samples). Sediment samples were obtained from coastal locations subjected to different stressors (aquaculture, urbanization, industry). DNA extraction efficiency, bacterial community profiles, and measures of alpha- and beta-diversity were highly congruent between treated and non-treated samples. As both preservation methods provide the same relevant information to environmental managers and regulators, we recommend the inclusion of both methods into SOPs for biomonitoring in marine coastal environments.

为避免环境 DNA (eDNA) 现场样本中的遗传信息丢失，在现场采样期间保存核酸是关键步骤。在为基于 eDNA 的合规性监测制定标准操作程序 (SOP) 时，不同常规使用的沉积物保存对用作生物指标的生物群落结构的影响未经测试。我们比较了用核酸保存溶液处理的样品等分试样（处理过的样品）和未经进一步处理而冷冻的等分试样（未处理样品）的海洋细菌群落的 eDNA 宏条形码结果。沉积物样本来自受到不同压力因素（水产养殖、城市化、工业）的沿海地区。DNA 提取效率、细菌群落概况、α-和β-多样性的测量在处理和未处理的样品之间高度一致。由于这两种保存方法向环境管理者和监管者提供相同的相关信息，我们建议将这两种方法都包含在 SOP 中，以便在海洋沿海环境中进行生物监测。