Metabarcoding data of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene of marine biofouling eukaryotic communities

We used eDNA metabarcoding to characterise eukaryotic biofouling communities on standard industrial mesh and composite fabric materials across two seasons (winter and summer), two exposure regimes (sheltered and exposed), and three depths (surface, 5 m, and 10 m) in New Zealand coastal waters. We characterised over 10,000 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) across 568 samples, revealing 541 species from 249 taxonomic classes. By combining biomass measurements with molecular analyses, we investigated both seasonal succession and short-term recruitment patterns. Our objectives were to: (1) assess biomass accumulation and alpha diversity across environmental gradients; (2) examine temporal shifts in community composition and beta diversity; and (3) evaluate the influence of key environmental and non-environmental drivers, particularly temperature, wind exposure, light, and materials.