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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.08.12.669806

Foraminiferal environmental DNA reveals late Holocene sea-level changes

Liu, Z.·Khan, N. S.·Yu, H. K. Y.·Chung, A.·Schweizer, M.·Schunter, C.
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Abstract

Reconstructing past relative sea level (RSL) provides critical insight into the mechanisms driving RSL change and informs future projections. Foraminifera are widely used sea-level indicators, but their application is often limited by poor preservation. Here, we demonstrate that foraminiferal environmental DNA (eDNA) and sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) provide a complementary approach to traditional morphological methods for RSL reconstruction. By analyzing surface sediments and a core from subtropical intertidal environments in the Pearl River Delta, we found that foraminiferal eDNA and sedaDNA assemblages exhibit clear vertical zonation, consistent with morphological results. An eDNA-based transfer function enabled high-resolution RSL reconstructions with decadal temporal and decimeter vertical precision from two periods: 290-1703 CE and 1956-present. Notably, eDNA preservation extended RSL reconstruction far earlier than morphological analyses (1956 CE). The eDNA reconstruction closely matched tide-gauge and geological RSL records, underscoring its potential as a robust tool for reconstructing past RSL and its driving mechanisms.

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Liu, Z., Khan, N. S., Yu, H. K. Y., Chung, A., Schweizer, M., Schunter, C.. 2025-08-15. Foraminiferal environmental DNA reveals late Holocene sea-level changes. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.12.669806

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