Using unsorted sweep-net samples to rapidly assess macroinvertebrate biodiversity

Abstract

Macroinvertebrate biodiversity is routinely used to assess the ecological condition of freshwater environments. Macroinvertebrates are traditionally identified morphologically to mostly family level, but by using DNA metabarcoding, they can be rapidly and reliably identified to species. Developing standardized, robust, and costeffective protocols would enable DNA metabarcoding to be broadly used for routine freshwater biological assessments leading to both potential cost savings and increased taxonomic resolution. To further reduce the cost and time it takes to process samples, we examined the feasibility of DNA metabarcoding unsorted macroinvertebrates (macroinvertebrates and debris) from s..