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\begin{document}

\title{Environmental RNA degrades more rapidly than environmental DNA across a
broad range of pH conditions}



\author[1]{Kaushar Kagzi}%
\author[1]{Robert Hechler}%
\author[1]{Gregor F Fussman}%
\author[1]{Melania Cristescu}%
\affil[1]{McGill University}%


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  \date{May 25, 2024}


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\begin{abstract}
Although the use and development of molecular biomonitoring tools based
on eNAs (environmental nucleic acids; eDNA and eRNA) have gained broad
interest for the quantification of biodiversity in natural ecosystems,
studies investigating the impact of site-specific physicochemical
parameters on eNA-based detection methods (particularly eRNA) remain
scarce. Here, we used a controlled laboratory microcosm experiment to
comparatively assess the environmental degradation of eDNA and eRNA
across an acid-base gradient following complete removal of the
progenitor organism (\emph{Daphnia pulex}). Using water samples
collected over a 30-day period, eDNA and eRNA copy numbers were
quantified using a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay targeting the
mitochondrial \emph{cytochrome c oxidase} subunit I (COI) gene of
\emph{D. pulex}. We found that eRNA decayed more rapidly than eDNA at
all pH conditions tested, with detectability---predicted by an
exponential decay model---for up to 57 hours (eRNA; neutral pH) and 143
days (eDNA; acidic pH) post organismal removal. Decay rates for eDNA
were significantly higher in neutral and alkaline conditions than in
acidic conditions, while decay rates for eRNA did not differ
significantly among pH levels. Collectively, our findings provide the
basis for a predictive framework assessing the persistence and
degradation dynamics of eRNA and eDNA across a range of ecologically
relevant pH conditions, establish the potential for eRNA to be used in
spatially and temporally sensitive biomonitoring studies (as it is
detectable across a range of pH levels), and may be used to inform
future sampling strategies in aquatic habitats.%
\end{abstract}%



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\verb`pHdeg_MER.docx`  available at \url{https://authorea.com/users/462358/articles/557808-environmental-rna-degrades-more-rapidly-than-environmental-dna-across-a-broad-range-of-ph-conditions}

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