Many factors influence how environmental DNA (eDNA) abundance varies in natural environments. One of the least studied contributors to eDNA variation is that of reproduction. Marine organisms that broadcast spawn are expected to shed increased quantities of DNA in association with the release of gametes and the elevated levels of activity associated with reproduction. To test this hypothesis at the community level, we present a year-long eDNA time-series of a temperate sea-shelf fish assemblage combined with adult fish and ichthyoplankton abundance data. Our results show that eDNA is associated with species abundance estimated by conventional fish surveys at all life stages (adult, larval, and egg), and was on average 2.3-fold more abundant during predicted fish reproductive periods.

中文翻译：

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繁殖影响温带海洋鱼类群落的季节性 eDNA 变异

许多因素会影响自然环境中环境 DNA (eDNA) 丰度的变化。对 eDNA 变异的研究最少的因素之一是繁殖。预计传播产卵的海洋生物会随着配子的释放和与繁殖相关的活动水平的提高而脱落更多的 DNA。为了在社区层面检验这一假设，我们提出了一个为期一年的温带海架鱼类组合的 eDNA 时间序列，并结合成鱼和浮游鱼类丰度数据。我们的研究结果表明，在所有生命阶段（成鱼、幼虫和卵），eDNA 与通过常规鱼类调查估计的物种丰度相关，并且在预测的鱼类繁殖期平均丰度高出 2.3 倍。