Ecological Health Assessment of the Northeastern Beibu Gulf Using eDNA and F-IBI

Note: Although the BioProject data type includes terms such as "genome sequencing" and "metagenome", the actual data in this study are derived from 12S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (eDNA-based metabarcoding). This study aims to assess the ecological health of the northeastern Beibu Gulf using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding technology and the Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (F-IBI). A total of 29 sampling stations were analyzed, and 70 fish species were detected, belonging to 11 orders, 31 families, and 59 genera. The F-IBI system, based on 7 core indicators, showed that the ecological health of the region is generally good, with 79 percent of the stations rated as "general" or above. Key environmental factors influencing fish distribution include ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and petroleum substances. The sequencing data have been deposited in the SRA with the strategy set to "AMPLICON", consistent with 12S rRNA gene amplification. This dataset provides valuable insights into fish community structure and environmental quality, and offers a scientific foundation for ecological protection and restoration in the Beibu Gulf.