Fish communities and diversity in river ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau revealed by environmental DNA (eDNA) method

Abstract

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) serves as the source of many large rivers in Asia, and also serves as a natural habitat for rare wildlife and a genetic reservoir for plateau species. The exceptional ecological environment of the QTP has fostered diverse fish species. However, due to climate change and human activities, fish species in this area are facing serious threats, while large spatial scale investigation is a big challenge. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, as an innovative monitoring technology, offers a simple, fast, and environmentally friendly approach to explore fish communities on the QTP. This study utilized eDNA technology to assess the diversity, composition, and potential environmental influences of riverine fish communities across the QTP. A total of 90 fish species were identified belonging to 79 genera, 34 families, and 18 orders. The dominant species were Schizothorax chongi, Gymnocypris przewalskii, Carassius carassius, and Botia striata. PCoA and ADONIS indicated significant differences among fish community in different river basins of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the ratio of SRP to TP, average NDVI, average elevation, and proportion of bare land significantly influenced the distribution of fish community. This study provided a novel monitoring method and insight for fish communities and implied potential species invasion on the QTP.