01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-07-0183 |
| Title of Abstract | Metabarcoding of zooplankton to derive indicators of pelagic ecosystem status in South Africa |
| Authors | Dr Ashrenee Govender*, Dr Jenny Huggett, Prof Johan Groeneveld |
| Organisation | Oceanographic Research Institute |
| Address | 1 King Shaka Avenue, Point Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Pincode: 4001 E-mail: agovender@ori.org.za |
| Country | South Africa |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | The marine pelagic ecosystem is the largest and most diverse environment on Earth, yet it is increasingly impacted by climate-driven changes such as ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation. These physical changes affect species distributions and, in turn, disrupt the structure and functioning of marine food webs. As a crucial link between primary producers (phytoplankton) and higher order trophic levels, zooplankton biodiversity and abundance are recognised as Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) for measuring biological change. Advances in molecular techniques now enable the identification of all zooplankton species in mixed samples, transforming biodiversity research by allowing for rapid and accurate processing of complex biological material. Within this context, DNA metabarcoding of zooplankton has emerged as a powerful, well-tested tool for deriving indicators of pelagic ecosystem status. However, challenges remain to its uptake by environmental management agencies, including the need for effective engagement of stakeholders to demonstrate its value and cost-efficiency, and the development of a roadmap towards its routine application in ocean monitoring. To address these challenges, a multi-institutional Zooplankton Inter-Calibration Experiment (Zoo-ICE) was launched in South Africa in 2021. This initiative aims to optimize scientific protocols, overcome logistical hurdles and strengthen engagement with key stakeholders and decision-makers. As a national framework, Zoo-ICE facilitates: access to offshore sampling on large research vessels; standardised laboratory processing and data analysis; strengthening of the regional DNA barcode reference database; ecological research on pelagic ecosystems; and the integration of molecular biodiversity data into existing long-term monitoring transects. We present a bespoke, multi-faceted approach towards integrating metabarcoding outputs into mainstream environmental management initiatives. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Molecular ecology, DNA metabarcoding, zooplankton, policymaking, biomonitoring. |
| For Awards | no |