16S 18S and COI Amplicon Analysis of Seamount Biodiversity

Seamounts are underwater mountains that serve as biodiversity hotspots in the deep sea. However, their biological communities are still not well understood. In this study, we used environmental DNA (eDNA) to investigate biodiversity patterns at the Beipo Seamount in the South China Sea. We collected 54 water samples from four depth layers across five stations. Using metabarcoding with 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and COI markers, we examined bacteria, algae, protozoa, and metazoans. Our results showed strong vertical stratification, with depth being the main factor shaping community structure. Despite this stratification, adjacent layers remained connected, likely due to water mixing around the seamount. Co-occurrence network analysis suggested that deeper communities were more stable. This study provides new insights into biodiversity and ecosystem stability in deep-sea seamounts.