Global aquatic ecosystems are facing increasing pressure from a wide range of human activities, such as hydropower development, industrial pollution, offshore engineering, overfishing, and species invasions. These pressures are multifaceted, cumulative, and spatially heterogeneous, creating significant challenges for traditional morphological-based monitoring approaches. Such methods often involve invasive sampling that may endanger rare species, are time-consuming and inefficient for large-scale surveys, and are limited by inconsistent data standards, hindering cross-basin ecosystem analysis. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples—such as water, soil, or air—without the need to capture or directly observe target organisms. The rapid development and application of eDNA technologies have greatly improved the monitoring of species diversity, functional diversity, and ecosystem functions in aquatic environments. eDNA methods are non-invasive, highly sensitive, cause minimal ecological disturbance, and make it possible to conduct large-scale surveys efficiently. As such, eDNA offers significant advantages over traditional approaches and is poised to revolutionize ecosystem monitoring and functional assessment in the near future.

This Research Topic aims to promote ecosystem monitoring and impact assessment under the influence of multiple human activities through the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) technology. The main objective is to overcome the limitations of traditional ecological monitoring and enable comprehensive, accurate evaluations of the impacts of human activities—including pollution, overfishing, invasive species introduction, and water management projects—on marine and near-shore ecosystems. The ultimate goal is to provide a solid scientific basis for optimizing ecological protection and management strategies. Specific objectives include:

1. Comprehensive monitoring of biodiversity and identification of species threatened by human activities.

2. Assessment of the impacts of human activities on the structure and function of ecosystem communities.

3. Distinguishing between “chemical” and “non-chemical” pressures from various human activities.

4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological protection and management measures.

5. Early warning detection for ecosystem degradation or emerging threats.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions focused on the development, application, and advancement of eDNA technologies for the monitoring and assessment of marine and near-shore ecosystems impacted by human activities. We encourage both original research articles and review papers on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Biodiversity monitoring of near-shore ecosystems

• Assessment of functional diversity in marine habitats

• Detection and abundance estimation of specific species

• Evaluation of stock enhancement and restocking initiatives

• Assessment of the effectiveness of marine protected areas and ecological protection measures

• Evaluation of the success of marine ecological restoration projects

• Assessment of the ecological effects of environmental pollution

• Evaluation of the impacts of biological invasions

• Environmental impact assessment related to nuclear power operations

• Ecological impact assessment of offshore wind and photovoltaic power generation

• Assessment of ecological effects associated with permanent marine structures (e.g., piers, artificial reefs)

We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Methodology, Data Report, and Brief Research Report articles.

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Ecosystem Monitoring and Effect Assessment of Multiple Human Activities Using Environmental DNA (eDNA) Technology