Environmental Gradients, Not Geographic Boundaries, Structure Meiofaunal Communities in Siberian Seas

Abstract

Meiofauna (all invertebrates smaller than 1 mm) are not only sensitive to environmental changes but also contribute significantly to nutrient cycling and energy transfer to higher trophic levels. Despite their importance, meiofauna distribution and ecology in the Siberian seas remain understudied. Here, we employ sediment environmental DNA metabarcoding to characterize meiofauna diversity across the unexplored Siberian seas. We show that meiofauna community structure is primarily driven by river discharge and coastal erosion, which are heavily influenced by climate change, rather than geographical distinctions between the seas. We observed higher meiofauna diversity in nearshore areas where river plumes promoted colonizer nematode communities that are resilient to disturbances. Yet, their dominance may lead to decreased ecosystem stability in the future. This study provides a valuable baseline for meiofauna diversity in remote Siberian seas undergoing rapid environmental change, which will be useful for assessing the future direction and pace of benthic ecological trajectories.