Fish survey limitations based on eDNA methods
Although the eDNA method has had a significant impact on the field of
ecology, it faces some limitations as a developing science (Goldberg et
al., 2016). One area of contention is whether the number of sequences
obtained through eDNA analysis can be used as a proxy for the number of
species identified in traditional surveys (Deiner et al., 2016; Zhang et
al., 2022). This is a crucial consideration because the accuracy of the
eDNA data relies on this assumption.
Another challenge is the reliability and accuracy of the species
comparison databases used in eDNA studies. The credibility of the new
records generated using this method is directly related to the quality
of the database. However, the eDNA method alone cannot verify the
accuracy of this database, which can affect the scientific rigor and
reliability of the results.
Finally, there is the issue of whether eDNA results accurately reflect
the fish species present at the sample site. DNA can originate from
organisms located several kilometers away, which can lead to erroneous
results (Deiner et al., 2016). This raises concerns about the
representativeness of the eDNA data and underscores the importance of
careful sampling.