Molecular Biodiversity Assessment and Health Diagnostics in Aquaculture through Environmental DNA Insights

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has revolutionized molecular biodiversity assessment and health diagnostics in aquaculture systems, offering non-invasive, cost-effective monitoring approaches. This study examines the application of eDNA metabarcoding techniques for comprehensive species detection, pathogen surveillance, and ecosystem health evaluation in aquaculture environments. The methodology employed eDNA sampling from multiple aquaculture sites using standardized protocols, followed by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. We hypothesized that eDNA approaches would demonstrate superior detection efficiency compared to traditional monitoring methods. Results revealed detection rates of 89-97% for fish species, with identification of 42-76 taxa per sampling site. Pathogen detection achieved sensitivity rates of 95-98% for bacterial and fungal pathogens, enabling early disease outbreak prediction. Statistical analysis showed significant correlations between eDNA concentrations and organism biomass. The discussion highlights eDNA's potential for real-time biosecurity monitoring, rare species detection, and water quality assessment. This study concludes that eDNA metabarcoding represents a paradigm shift in aquaculture management, providing rapid, accurate biodiversity data essential for sustainable production and ecosystem conservation.