Harnessing Environmental DNA Metabarcoding for the Detection and Mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea

In this study, we harness the potential of eDNA metabarcoding to detect and map VMEs in the EasternIonian Sea. We integrate eDNA analysis with data collected from a scientic bottom trawl survey as partof the Mediterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS) campaign, with the specic aim to assess thepresence and distribution of key VMEI taxa. The study employed a self-produced 3D-printed sampler, themetaprobe (Maiello et al. 2022), to collect eDNA samples directly from the trawl net, allowing for a moretargeted approach to detecting benthic organisms associated with VMEs. By incorporating the data in aJoint Species Distribution Model (JSDM) approach, we predict the distribution of VMEIs across the studyarea, and evaluate the role of environmental factors in shaping it, thus identifying priority areas forprotection and conservation strategies.