DOI: 10.5061/dryad.5qfttdzgt
title: Species-level fish assemblages around Hong Kong from underwater visual census and environmental DNA metabarcoding

description: This dataset contains spatiotemporal fish diversity data collected across
 an estuarine-urbanisation gradient around Hong Kong using both underwater
 visual census (UVC) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. The data
 include species-level fish community compositions from 25 sampling
 locations, collected during both wet and dry seasons. The study aimed to
 overcome challenges posed by high turbidity and document the impacts of
 urbanisation on coastal fish diversity. The dataset captures different
 components of fish communities through both methods, with a total of 11
 potentially novel species detected and notable seasonal and regional
 variations in fish diversity.
description: # Species and genus level fish assemblages around Hong Kong from
 underwater visual census and environmental DNA metabarcoding
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5qfttdzgt](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5qfttdzgt) ## Description of the data and file structure This dataset was collected as part of a study examining spatiotemporal patterns in coastal reef fish diversity across an estuarine-urbanisation gradient in Hong Kong. The study utilised two primary methods: underwater visual census (UVC) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to assess fish community structures during both wet and dry seasons. The data include fish diversity metrics, environmental parameters, and site-specific details for 25 sampling locations across Hong Kong’s coastal waters. ### Files and variables ###### Principle Investigator Contact Information ``` Name: Alex S.J. Wyatt Institution: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Email: wyatt@ust.hk ``` ###### Alternate Contact Information ``` Name: Yu-De Pei Institution: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Email: ydpei7890@gmail.com ``` ### Dates of Data Collection ``` May - December 2021 ``` ### Data Spatial Scope Data were collected at 25 sites around Hong Kong. Latitudes and longitudes for each site are available in the paper. ### Funding This study was partially supported by funding from the Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Laboratory Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) under SMSEGL20SC01 to Alex S.J. Wyatt. ### Recommended Citation Pei, Y.-D., Heard, J., Xu, W., Leung, S.K.K., Yung, C.C.M. and Wyatt, A.S.J. (in review) Characterisation of coastal reef fish assemblages across an estuarine-urbanisation gradient using underwater visual survey and environmental DNA metabarcoding. Diversity and Distributions. #### File: Fish-eDNA\_(species\_level).csv **Description: eDNA reads at species level**  ##### Variables * Method: underwater visual census (UVC) or environmental DNA (eDNA) * Region: one of five regions around Hong Kong (HK): Lantau, S-HK = south HK, SE-HK = southeast HK, E-SK = east Sai Kung, N-SK = north Sai Kung * Site: sites within regions (25 total) * Season: Wet (May/Jun 2021) or Dry (Nov/Dec 2021) * Collection Date: date of sample collection (dd.mm.yyyy) * Reads: total reads in sample * Richness: total number of species in sample * subsequent columns: species specific reads #### File: Fish-UVC\_(species\_level).csv **Description: UVC counts at species level**  ##### Variables * Method: underwater visual census (UVC) or environmental DNA (eDNA) * Region: one of five regions around Hong Kong (HK): Lantau, S-HK = south HK, SE-HK = southeast HK, E-SK = east Sai Kung, N-SK = north Sai Kung * Site: sites within regions (25 total) * Season: Wet (May/Jun 2021) or Dry (Nov/Dec 2021) * Richness: total number of species in observation * subsequent columns: species specific presence (1) or absence (blank) ## Code/software N/A ## Access information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * N/A Data was derived from the following sources: * N/A