{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"institution":[{"name":"bioRxiv"}],"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T17:59:15Z","timestamp":1791223155420,"version":"4.1.0"},"posted":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"group-title":"Ecology","reference-count":64,"publisher":"openRxiv","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790726400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                <jats:p>Management of marine protected areas (MPAs) require long-term monitoring and evaluation that is often limited by the cost and effort of conventional visual based surveys. We evaluated a community science-based eDNA approach to MPA monitoring over two years in the Point Dume State Marine Reserve, the Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area, and two paired unprotected reference sites. Across the sampling period, we detected 119 species of fish and marine mammals, including 19 of the 22 regional management-priority species for Southern CA MPAs. Protected and unprotected comparison sites were broadly similar in overall assemblage with 93 species shared across all sites. Multivariate analyses revealed site-level differences, although season and year explained more variation than protection status. Species presence also shifted during a La-Ni\u00f1a transition, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring under different climatological contexts. Community scientists greatly expanded the temporal and spatial scope of eDNA sampling and generated high-quality data. Subsampling analysis showed that quarterly sampling, with three sample replicates and sequencing depths between 700k-990k, recovered 95% of observed biodiversity of the full time series. These results demonstrate that a community science-based eDNA program could provide a standardized, scalable, low-cost, and management-relevant approach for long-term monitoring across California\u2019s MPA network.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.64898\/2026.09.29.755491","type":"posted-content","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T17:25:20Z","timestamp":1790789120000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Using Community Science and eDNA to Inform a State-Designed Marine Protected Area Monitoring Program: A Case Study from Malibu, California"],"prefix":"10.64898","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7013-1837","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tanner","family":"Waters","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Center for Developing Leadership in Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0490-7630","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zachary","family":"Gold","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emily","family":"Parker","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Heal the Bay, Los Angeles, CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olivia","family":"Simon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Developing Leadership in Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, University of California, Los Angeles, in CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-9994-4843","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Liam","family":"Jenny","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, University of California, Los Angeles, in CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8653-6487","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Richard F.","family":"Ambrose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Jonathan and Karen Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paul H.","family":"Barber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0304-6111","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert A.","family":"Eagle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Center for Developing Leadership in Science, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA"},{"name":"Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department, University of California, Los Angeles, in CA, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"54368","reference":[{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/nature13022"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ocecoaman.2012.08.013","article-title":"Designing a network of marine protected areas in California: Achievements, costs, lessons learned, and challenges ahead","volume":"74","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ocean Coast. Manag"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ocecoaman.2012.08.015","article-title":"California\u2019s Marine Life Protection Act Initiative: Supporting implementation of legislation establishing a statewide network of marine protected areas","volume":"74","year":"2013","journal-title":"Ocean Coast. Manag"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2305\/IUCN.CH.2006.PAG.14.en"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.5","unstructured":"Hoffman, G. et al. Climate Resilience and California\u2019s Marine Protected Area Network: A Report by the Ocean Protection Council Science Advisory Team Working Group and California Ocean Science Trust. https:\/\/www.opc.ca.gov\/webmaster\/ftp\/pdf\/agenda_items\/20210615\/Item3_Climate_Resilience_and_Californias_MPA_Network_2021.pdf (2021)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dailey, M. D. , Reish, D. J. & Anderson, J. W . Ecology of the Southern California Bight: A Synthesis and Interpretation. (University of California Press, 1993).","DOI":"10.1525\/9780520322400"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1059199"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jennings, S. & Kaiser, M. J. The Effects of Fishing on Marine Ecosystems. in Advances in Marine Biology (eds Blaxter, J. H. S. , Southward, A. J. & Tyler, P. A. ) vol. 34 201\u2013352 (Academic Press, 1998).","DOI":"10.1016\/S0065-2881(08)60212-6"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.9","unstructured":"California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Marine Protected Areas. https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Conservation\/Marine\/MPAs\/FAQs#27530610-what-are-marine-protected-areas-mpas-."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.10","unstructured":"Airam\u00e9, S. & Ugoretz, J . Channel Islands marine protected areas first 5 years of monitoring: 2003-2008 [Report produced by the California Department of Fish and Game in collaboration with the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, and Channel Islands National Park]. http:\/\/aquaticcommons.org\/1778\/ (2008)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Caselle, J. E. , Rassweiler, A. , Hamilton, S. L. & Warner, R. R . Recovery trajectories of kelp forest animals are rapid yet spatially variable across a network of temperate marine protected areas. Sci. Rep. 5, 14102 (2015).","DOI":"10.1038\/srep14102"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2251","DOI":"10.1890\/06-0161.1","article-title":"Temperate Marine Reserves Enhance Targeted but Not Untargeted Fishes in Multiple No-Take Mpas","volume":"17","year":"2007","journal-title":"Ecol. Appl"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ziegler, S. L. et al. External fishing effort regulates positive effects of no-take marine protected areas. Biol. Conserv. 269, 109546 (2022).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocon.2022.109546"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.14","unstructured":"Carr, M. H. , et al. Monitoring and Evaluation of Kelp Forest Ecosystems in the MLPA Marine Protected Area Network. https:\/\/caseagrant.ucsd.edu\/system\/files\/2022-06\/Kelp%20Forest%20Technical%20Report%20Narrative_v2.pdf (2021)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.15","unstructured":"Dugan, J. E. , et al. Evaluating Performance of California\u2019s MPA Network through the Lens of Sandy Beach and Surf Zone Ecosystems. (2022) doi:https:\/\/caseagrant.ucsd.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/FinalMPAReportBeachesSurfZones2022.pdf."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gecco.2019.e00547"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.17","unstructured":"Pondella, D. J. et al. South Coast Baseline Program Final Report: Kelp and Shallow Rock Ecosystems. 310 (2015)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.18","unstructured":"California Ocean Protection Council. Long-Term MPA Monitoring Projects. https:\/\/www.opc.ca.gov\/webmaster\/ftp\/pdf\/agenda_items\/20190523\/Item3a_MPA_Longterm_Moni toring_Projects_FINAL.pdf (2019)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ece3.7382"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1101\/2020.08.20.258889"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e12470","DOI":"10.1111\/maec.12470","article-title":"Citizen science monitoring of marine protected areas: Case studies and recommendations for integration into monitoring programs","volume":"39","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mar. Ecol"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.22","unstructured":"Eitzel, M. V. , et al. Using MPA Watch Data to Analyze Human Activities Along the California Coast. https:\/\/escholarship.org\/uc\/item\/3j0773z1 (2022)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Agersnap, S. et al. A National Scale \u201cBioBlitz\u201d Using Citizen Science and eDNA Metabarcoding for Monitoring Coastal Marine Fish. Front. Mar. Sci. 9, (2022).","DOI":"10.3389\/fmars.2022.824100"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.24","first-page":"e584","article-title":"Integration of citizen science and eDNA reveals novel ecological insights for marine fish conservation. Environ","volume":"6","year":"2024","journal-title":"DNA"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1111\/2041-210X.12683","article-title":"Comparison of capture and storage methods for aqueous macrobial eDNA using an optimized extraction protocol: advantage of enclosed filter","volume":"8","year":"2017","journal-title":"Methods Ecol. Evol"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Miya, M. et al. MiFish, a set of universal PCR primers for metabarcoding environmental DNA from fishes: detection of more than 230 subtropical marine species. R. Soc. Open Sci. 2, (2015).","DOI":"10.1098\/rsos.150088"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.22541\/au.159136805.55528691"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1101\/2020.10.29.360859"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kelly, R. P. , Shelton, A. O. & Gallego, R . Understanding PCR Processes to Draw Meaningful Conclusions from Environmental DNA Studies. Sci. Rep. 9, 12133 (2019).","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-48546-x"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/2041-210X.12613"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1408","DOI":"10.1111\/2041-210X.14123","article-title":"The unmarked R package: Twelve years of advances in occurrence and abundance modelling in ecology","volume":"14","year":"2023","journal-title":"Methods Ecol. Evol"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.32","unstructured":"California Department of Fish and Wildlife & California Ocean Protection Council. Marine Protected Area Monitoring Action Plan. https:\/\/nrm.dfg.ca.gov\/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=161748&inline (2018)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10532","DOI":"10.1029\/2019GL083946","article-title":"Towards Probabilistic Multivariate ENSO Monitoring","volume":"46","year":"2019","journal-title":"Geophys. Res. Lett"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.34","unstructured":"NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/pdo\/ (2026)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7332","DOI":"10.1029\/2018JC014187","article-title":"Coastal Upwelling Revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and Improved Upwelling Indices for the U.S. West Coast","volume":"123","year":"2018","journal-title":". J. Geophys. Res. Oceans"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.36","unstructured":"Earth Science Data Systems, N. GHRSST Level 4 MUR Global Foundation Sea Surface Temperature Analysis (v4.1) | NASA Earthdata. Earth Science Data Systems, NASA (2025)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.37","unstructured":"California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2024 Marine Region By The Numbers. https:\/\/nrm.dfg.ca.gov\/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=229396&inline (2024)."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e33835","DOI":"10.3897\/mbmg.3.33835","article-title":"Development of a new set of PCR primers for eDNA metabarcoding decapod crustaceans","volume":"3","year":"2019","journal-title":"Metabarcoding Metagenomics"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Leray, M. et al. A new versatile primer set targeting a short fragment of the mitochondrial COI region for metabarcoding metazoan diversity: application for characterizing coral reef fish gut contents. Front. Zool. 10, 34 (2013).","DOI":"10.1186\/1742-9994-10-34"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dsr.2013.03.003","article-title":"Shifts in condition and distribution of eastern North Pacific flatfish along the U.S. west coast (2003\u20132010)","volume":"77","year":"2013","journal-title":"Deep Sea Res. Part Oceanogr. Res. Pap"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ece3.4802"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0218614"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1890\/110185"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70089","DOI":"10.1111\/ddi.70089","article-title":"Combining eDNA and Visual Surveys Improves Detection of Reef Fishes Across Their Biogeographic Ranges","volume":"31","year":"2025","journal-title":"Divers. Distrib"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.45","first-page":"e2307214121","article-title":"Combining environmental DNA and visual surveys can inform conservation planning for coral reefs","volume":"121","year":"2023","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"20","DOI":"10.3733\/ca.2021a0001","article-title":"The CALeDNA program: Citizen scientists and researchers inventory California\u2019s biodiversity","volume":"75","year":"2021","journal-title":"Calif. Agric"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0963662515607406"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.48","first-page":"50","article-title":"Can citizen science lead to positive conservation attitudes and behaviors?","volume":"20","year":"2013","journal-title":"Hum. Ecol. Rev"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"591","DOI":"10.1002\/pan3.10432","article-title":"The benefits of citizen science and nature-noticing activities for well-being, nature connectedness and pro-nature conservation behaviours","volume":"5","year":"2023","journal-title":"People Nat"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s43586-021-00093-4"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.51","first-page":"1","article-title":"Citizen science and the right to research: building local knowledge of climate change impacts","volume":"9","year":"2022","journal-title":"Humanit. Soc. Sci. Commun"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3354\/meps08029"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0035868"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1461-0248.2008.01166.x"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.55","unstructured":"California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Point Dume State Marine Reserve\/State Marine Conservation Area. https:\/\/wildlife.ca.gov\/Conservation\/Marine\/MPAs\/Point-Dume."},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Caselle, J. E. , Rassweiler, A. , Hamilton, S. L. & Warner, R. R . Recovery trajectories of kelp forest animals are rapid yet spatially variable across a network of temperate marine protected areas. Sci. Rep. 5, 14102 (2015).","DOI":"10.1038\/srep14102"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e01949","DOI":"10.1002\/eap.1949","article-title":"Setting expected timelines of fished population recovery for the adaptive management of a marine protected area network","volume":"29","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ecol. Appl"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2376","DOI":"10.1111\/1365-2664.13463","article-title":"Setting ecological expectations for adaptive management of marine protected areas","volume":"56","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Appl. Ecol"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Walker, J. B. , et al. Sentinel site networks as a mechanism to evaluate progress toward meeting restoration goals in altered and unaltered landscapes. Restor. Ecol. 33, e70062 (2025).","DOI":"10.1111\/rec.70062"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/edn3.257"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0286228","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0286228","article-title":"Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals distinct fish assemblages supported by seagrass (Zostera marina and Zostera pacifica) beds in different geographic settings in Southern California","volume":"18","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLOS ONE"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liu, Q. et al. A Review and Perspective of eDNA Application to Eutrophication and HAB Control in Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems. Microorganisms 8, 417 (2020).","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms8030417"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fonseca, V. G. et al. The Application of eDNA for Monitoring Aquatic Non-Indigenous Species: Practical and Policy Considerations. Diversity 15, 631 (2023).","DOI":"10.3390\/d15050631"},{"key":"2026100510451063000_2026.09.29.755491v1.64","first-page":"e400","article-title":"Archived DNA reveals marine heatwave-associated shifts in fish assemblages. Environ","volume":"6","year":"2024","journal-title":"DNA"}],"container-title":[],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.64898\/2026.09.29.755491","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T17:45:22Z","timestamp":1791222322000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/biorxiv.org\/lookup\/doi\/10.64898\/2026.09.29.755491"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"references-count":64,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.64898\/2026.09.29.755491","relation":{},"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]]},"subtype":"preprint"}}