Coral reefs, the rainforests of the sea, are vital hotspots for marine biodiversity. However, the persistent challenge of climate change directly threatens the delicate balance of coral reef ecosystems, impacting myriad species and critical ecosystem services. Therefore, this comprehensive review critically discusses the associated challenges in assessing and preserving coral reef diversity, emphasizing the need for novel biomonitoring techniques due to the elusive and cryptic nature of many reef organisms. The review focuses on environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis as a non-invasive tool for coral species monitoring at various ecological levels. The review highlights that using eDNA in coral reef monitoring requires careful consideration of multiple factors, such as strategic assay development, optimization, and marker selection, substrate selection, and sample volume, which are critical for maximizing the probability of species detection. Moreover, integrating environmental RNA (eRNA) provides additional insights into temporal aspects advancing the coral reef biodiversity research and conservation efforts.

中文翻译：

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通过环境 DNA 弥合差距：解释珊瑚礁生态系统生物多样性数据的关键考虑因素综述


珊瑚礁是海洋中的热带雨林，是海洋生物多样性的重要热点地区。然而，气候变化的持续挑战直接威胁到珊瑚礁生态系统的微妙平衡，影响到无数物种和关键的生态系统服务。因此，本综合综述批判性地讨论了评估和保护珊瑚礁多样性的相关挑战，强调由于许多珊瑚礁生物难以捉摸和神秘的性质，需要新的生物监测技术。本综述的重点是环境 DNA （eDNA） 分析作为各种生态水平珊瑚物种监测的非侵入性工具。该综述强调，在珊瑚礁监测中使用 eDNA 需要仔细考虑多个因素，例如战略检测开发、优化和标记物选择、底物选择和样品量，这些因素对于最大限度地提高物种检测概率至关重要。此外，整合环境 RNA （eRNA） 为推进珊瑚礁生物多样性研究和保护工作的时间方面提供了额外的见解.