Saving the doomed: Using eDNA to aid in detection of rare sturgeon for conservation (Acipenseridae)

Pfleger, Mariah O.; Rider, Steven J.; Johnston, Carol E.; Janosik, Alexis M.

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2016.08.008

Cited by 70 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…eDNA analysis requires less time and effort than more conventional approaches, enabling eel populations to be monitored over large spatial and temporal scales using a consistent protocol. Moreover, as this is a non‐lethal method, it would be suitable for monitoring populations of endangered anguillid eels in the same way as it has been applied to other endangered species, including fishes (Boothroyd, Mandrak, Fox, & Wilson, ; Eva et al, ; Laramie, Pilliod, & Goldberg, ; Pfleger, Rider, Johnston, & Janosik, ), bivalves (Currier, Morris, Wilson, & Freeland, ), and amphibians (Fukumoto et al, ). This method could also be used to monitor species of invasive eels, as it has been used for other invasive species (Clusa & García‐Vázquez, ; Dougherty et al, ; Hinlo, Furlan, Suitor, & Gleeson, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental DNA analysis reveals the spatial distribution, abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels at the river‐basin scale

Itakura

Wakiya

Yamamoto

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

106

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1. There is growing international concern about declines in populations of anguillid eels, resulting in their inclusion in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Monitoring the population dynamics of these species is often challenging, however, owing to their broad distributions and complex, catadromous life histories.2. Whether environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis could be used to monitor the spatial distribution of anguillid eels in rivers was investigated by conducting basin-scale surveys of Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1846, in 10 rivers in Japan, and comparing the results obtained using eDNA analysis with the results obtained using the electrofishing method. Moreover, the relationship between the eDNA concentration and the abundance and biomass of Japanese eels was examined.3. The eDNA of Japanese eels was detected at 56 (91.8%) of the 61 study sites from which individuals were collected by electrofishing, and at an additional 35 sites where individuals were not directly collected. This indicates that eDNA analysis has a greater sensitivity for detecting the presence of eels, making it a powerful tool for monitoring the spatial distribution of anguillid eels in rivers. 4. A significant, but weak, positive relationship between the eDNA concentration and the abundance and biomass of Japanese eels was also found, suggesting that eDNA analysis may be useful for estimating the abundance and biomass of anguillid eels in rivers. 5. This is the first study to demonstrate the potential usefulness of eDNA analysis for estimating the spatial distribution, abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels in rivers. eDNA analysis will allow anguillid eel populations to be monitored over large spatial and temporal scales using a consistent protocol, with reduced time and effort compared with conventional techniques, providing invaluable information for managing populations of these endangered species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental DNA analysis reveals the spatial distribution, abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels at the river‐basin scale

Itakura

Wakiya

Yamamoto

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

106

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“…Expanding beyond scallops, this gamete detection assay could help identify the presence of rarer species through spawning events. Collected eDNA has been used to identify the presence of rare or elusive species in aquatic environments, like sturgeon Acipenseridae (Pfleger et al 2016). However, Erickson et al (2016 found no relationship between eDNA and spawning activity of bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing an eDNA toolkit to quantify broadcast spawning events of the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus: moving beyond fertilization assays

Bayer¹,

Countway²,

Wahle³

2019

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Broadcast spawners release their gametes into the water column for 'chance' fertilization events. However, detection of such events in near real-time is extremely difficult, but needed to improve fisheries and conservation management practices. It is practically impossible to distinguish the gametes of many species by microscopy; therefore, DNA-based techniques are preferable to detect and quantify gametes from field-collected plankton samples. We developed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach to detect and quantify broadcast spawning events in marine environmental DNA (eDNA) samples. We applied this approach to a commercially valuable broadcast spawning bivalve species, the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus. Our approach includes (1) sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, (2) developing a novel species-specific probe and primer set, (3) testing the probe and primer set on a dilution series of sea scallop sperm to quantify the relationship between gamete abundance and DNA copy number, and (4) conducting dockside field tests of our method on plankton samples adjacent to naturally spawning sea scallops. Quantitative PCR revealed a clear relationship between DNA copy number and P. magellanicus sperm cell abundance, indicating that this method is reliable for detecting sperm release by male scallops during spawning events. Plankton samples collected during the scallop spawning season revealed spikes of scallop eDNA in both the < 20 µm (sperm) and > 20 µm (possible eggs) particle size-fractions. This method holds great potential to provide more efficient estimates of the timing, magnitude, and spatial scale of reproductive events than conventional methods for a wide range of broadcast spawners.

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“…If neither RRJs nor spawning adults can be captured in future studies, the use of modern environmental DNA (eDNA) methods could be used to help establish the presence of spawning adults within the upper reaches of the St. Johns River. A similar approach was used recently by Pfleger et al (2016) to document the presence of the Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus suttkusi) in the Mobile River basin, Alabama.…”

Section: Datementioning

confidence: 99%

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Saving the doomed: Using eDNA to aid in detection of rare sturgeon for conservation (Acipenseridae)

Cited by 70 publications

References 27 publications

Environmental DNA analysis reveals the spatial distribution, abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels at the river‐basin scale

Environmental DNA analysis reveals the spatial distribution, abundance, and biomass of Japanese eels at the river‐basin scale

Developing an eDNA toolkit to quantify broadcast spawning events of the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus: moving beyond fertilization assays

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