LAUSR

Monitoring species diversity and distribution patterns in remote ecosystems presents significant challenges due to vast geographic coverage, harsh environmental conditions, and the limited availability of traditional survey resources. Environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has been proven to be an effective method for biodiversity assessment, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and efficient solution. The study used eDNA metabarcoding technology to investigate fish communities in the Kashi River, a vital waterway in Xinjiang. Two-season of 37 eDNA water samples were taken from multiple sites, and 77 species were detected in April and 137 in September. Additionally, the results of spatial analysis showed that there were significant differences in fish composition among the different areas. These findings provided valuable insights into the ecological dynamics of the Kashi River of the Ili River, contributing to fish biodiversity conservation in freshwater ecosystem regions like the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Furthermore, the study underscored the potential of eDNA for long-term monitoring of freshwater ecosystems, informing conservation efforts, and managing fish resources in the Kashi River of the Ili River and similar freshwater ecosystems.