A global dataset on aquatic species occurrence through eDNA and traditional methods
This dataset was compiled as part of a global meta-analysis investigating how environmental and methodological factors influence the detection probability of environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic ecosystems. It contains harmonized data extracted from 22 published studies that compared eDNA-based detection methods with traditional biodiversity surveys across various aquatic environments. Key environmental variables include temperature, UV radiation, and salinity. Methodological descriptors include filter pore size and DNA fragment length.
Default
IdentificationAbout this resource
- Alternate Identifier
-
dc512697-ed50-40c5-a3cd-1774000444b9
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-20
- Title
-
A global dataset on aquatic species occurrence through eDNA and traditional methods
- Abstract
-
This dataset was compiled as part of a global meta-analysis investigating how environmental and methodological factors influence the detection probability of environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic ecosystems. It contains harmonized data extracted from 22 published studies that compared eDNA-based detection methods with traditional biodiversity surveys across various aquatic environments. Key environmental variables include temperature, UV radiation, and salinity. Methodological descriptors include filter pore size and DNA fragment length.
- Dataset Language
-
English
- Dataset Creator
- Metadata Provider
- Associated Party
- Dataset Contact
- Keywords (Sandy Beach Thesaurus)
-
-
Environmental factors
-
- Keywords (AGROVOC)
-
-
Environmental DNA
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Traditional methods
-
- Keywords (Environmental Thesaurus)
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biodiversity
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water temperature
-
Geographic Coverage
- Geographic Description
-
The dataset contains information at a global level.
Bounding Box
- West Bounding Coordinate
-
-180
- East Bounding Coordinate
-
180
- North Bounding Coordinate
-
90
- South Bounding Coordinate
-
-90
Temporal Coverage
Range of Dates
- Begin Date
-
2011-10-01
- End Date
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2020-09-15
resourceLicensesLicense Information
- Intellectual Rights
-
Free for use, including sharing and adaptation, by all individuals provided that the owners are acknowledged in any use or publication.
Resource License
- License Name
-
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Distribution
Online
- A brief description of the the content of online URL.
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Info and download page on LifeWatch Italy Data Portal
Distribution
Online
- A brief description of the the content of online URL.
-
DOI
Project
• Project
- Title
- Abstract
Personnel
- Organization Name
Individual Name
- Given Name
- Surname
- Position Name
Methods
• Method
Method Step
- Description
-
This dataset was generated through a systematic literature review conducted on Web of Science between September 2023 and May 2024. We searched for peer-reviewed studies comparing species detections using both eDNA metabarcoding and traditional morphological methods in aquatic macroorganisms. Boolean combinations of terms including eDNA, metabarcoding, morphological identification, temperature, UV, fragment size, filter, and salinity were used. From over 1000 records screened, 22 studies met all inclusion criteria. For each selected study, we extracted data on species detected by both methods, geographic coordinates, ecosystem type, filter pore size, DNA fragment length, and available environmental variables. When information on water temperature remained unavailable, we sourced the data from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (Merchant et al., 2019; Merchant and Embury, 2020), and the ERA5-Land dataset of the Copernicus Climate Data Store (Munoz Sabater, 2019) for marine and freshwater environments, respectively. Additionally, we obtained salinity data from the NOAA CoastalWatch Data Portal when it was not provided in the studies. To analyse DNA-damage potential from UV exposure, we used the Clear-sky DNA-damage UV dose dataset provided by the Tropospheric Emission Monitoring Internet Service (TEMIS) (Van Geffen et al., 2017).
Data Tables
• Data Table
- Name
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collectionID_reference_list.csv
- Description
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This table contains the collection IDs with the associated reference.
Physical
- Object Name
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collectionID_reference_list.csv
- Size
-
5892
- Authentication
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MD5:61d1d4890e38cf92258ab927a9c36d1d
- Character Encoding
-
UTF-8
Data Format
- textFormat
-
1
column
,
Attribute List
Attribute
- Name
-
collectionID
- Label
-
Collection ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the collection or dataset from which the record was derived.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
bibliographicCitation
- Label
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Bibliographic Citation
- Definition
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A bibliographic reference for the resource.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
- numberOfRecords
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22
• Data Table
- Name
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eDNA_vs_morphology.csv
- Description
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This table contains species occurrence records detected using eDNA metabarcoding and traditional methods, along with associated environmental and methodological factors.
Physical
- Object Name
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eDNA_vs_morphology.csv
- Size
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1214696
- Authentication
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MD5:211351b2bd74a1f6d1857cc6704c7d33
Data Format
- textFormat
-
1
column
,
Attribute List
Attribute
- Name
-
collectionID
- Label
-
Collection ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the collection or dataset from which the record was derived.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
scientificName
- Label
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Scientific Name
- Definition
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The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known. When forming part of a dwc:Identification, this should be the name in lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined. This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the dwc:identificationQualifier term.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
acceptedNameUsage
- Label
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Accepted Name Usage
- Definition
-
The full name, with authorship and date information if known, of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) dwc:Taxon.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
basisOfRecord
- Label
-
Basis Of Record
- Definition
-
The specific nature of the data record.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
taxonomicGroup
- Label
-
Taxonomic Group
- Definition
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A classification grouping of organisms that are related based on shared characteristics.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
fish
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
zooplankton
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
macroinvertebrates
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
insects
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
vertebrates
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
amphibians
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
various
Attribute
- Name
-
taxonID
- Label
-
Taxon ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the set of dwc:Taxon information. May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the data set.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
taxonRank
- Label
-
Taxon Rank
- Definition
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The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the dwc:scientificName.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
habitat
- Label
-
Habitat
- Definition
-
A category or description of the habitat in which the dwc:Event occurred.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
country
- Label
-
Country
- Definition
-
The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
locality
- Label
-
Locality
- Definition
-
The specific description of the place.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
nominal
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
eventDate
- Label
-
Event Date
- Definition
-
The date-time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred. For occurrences, this is the date-time when the dwc:Event was recorded. Not suitable for a time in a geological context.
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
dateTime
Measurement Domain
- Code
-
YYYY-MM-DD
- Definition
-
Year-Month-Day
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
filterPoreSize
- Label
-
Filter Pore Size
- Definition
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The pore size of the filter used to collect particulate material from a sample (typically a water sample). Only the material collected on the filter is used in the analysis.
- Standard Unit
-
micrometer
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
ampliconSize
- Label
-
Amplicon Size
- Definition
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The size of the DNA fragment.
- Standard Unit
-
Basepairs
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLatitude
- Label
-
Decimal Latitude
- Definition
-
The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are north of the Equator, negative values are south of it. Legal values lie between -90 and 90, inclusive.
- Standard Unit
-
degree
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLongitude
- Label
-
Decimal Longitude
- Definition
-
The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in dwc:geodeticDatum) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location. Positive values are east of the Greenwich Meridian, negative values are west of it. Legal values lie between -180 and 180, inclusive.
- Standard Unit
-
degree
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
waterTemperature
- Label
-
Water Temperature
- Definition
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Any measurable characteristic related to the temperature of water.
- Standard Unit
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celsius
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
salinity
- Label
-
Salinity
- Definition
-
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water (see also soil salinity). Salinity is an important factor in determining many aspects of the chemistry of natural waters and of biological processes within it, and is a thermodynamic state variable that, along with temperature and pressure, governs physical characteristics like the density and heat capacity of the water.
- Standard Unit
-
PSU
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
Attribute
- Name
-
uvRadiation
- Label
-
Ultraviolet Radiation
- Definition
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A radiation process during which electromagnetic waves or their quanta are emitted at wavelengths between 10 nm and 400 nm.
- Standard Unit
-
kilojoule per square meter
Measurement Scale
- Measurement Type
-
ratio
Annotation
- numberOfRecords
-
5635
