Pattunuang River fish eDNA

This study explored ichthyofaunal diversity in the Pattunuang River, Maros karst region, South Sulawesi, using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding (water samples, 12S rRNA, MiFish primers and bioinformatics pipeline). Bony fish (class Actinopteri) operational taxonomic units (OTUs)were assigned to 12 orders, 15 families, and 33 species-level OTUs including 7 alien taxa. These data provide a baseline for monitoring of changes in fish biodiversity in this watershed and early detection of non-native species. They also reinforce calls for integrated molecular and classic taxonomic research and highlight need for alien species management in the UNESCO-recognised Maros-Pangkep Geopark and across the Wallacea region.