Species-level fish assemblages around Hong Kong from underwater visual census and environmental DNA metabarcoding

This dataset contains spatiotemporal fish diversity data collected across
an estuarine-urbanisation gradient around Hong Kong using both underwater
visual census (UVC) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. The data
include species-level fish community compositions from 25 sampling
locations, collected during both wet and dry seasons. The study aimed to
overcome challenges posed by high turbidity and document the impacts of
urbanisation on coastal fish diversity. The dataset captures different
components of fish communities through both methods, with a total of 11
potentially novel species detected and notable seasonal and regional
variations in fish diversity.