Use of environmental DNA to survey the distribution of the invasive mussel <i>Limnoperna fortunei</i> in farm ponds

Abstract

The golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) is an invasive freshwater bivalve species that exerts harmful effects on the environment, as well as man-made structures, such as water-treatment systems. By using conventional sampling methods, it is difficult to detect mussels under low-density conditions; however, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis may be a rapid and efficient method for monitoring this aquatic organism. In this study, we conducted surveys based on the eDNA analysis of L. fortunei in 15 farm ponds in Japan and compared the results with those of two conventional survey methods, visual census and plankton larval survey, to clarify the effectiveness of eDNA analysis for field surveys of L. fortunei. Primers and a probe specific to L. fortunei were developed, and a method for analysis was established. In the laboratory experiments, the species eDNA was detected in all water tanks containing the mussels, and the concentration of eDNA was high in the experimental tank that had high density of L. fortunei. In the field survey, L. fortunei eDNA was detected in all ponds where the mussels were found by conventional survey, and low concentrations of eDNA were also detected in several ponds where no L. fortunei were found by traditional methods. These results suggest that eDNA analysis has greater sensitivity for the detection of L. fortunei in farm ponds than that of conventional methods. Environmental DNA surveys have little impact on water management and are suitable for surveys at water facilities that have not yet been damaged by the mussels.

Catch me if you can: current status and topical issues on the use of eDNA-based targeted detection of rare and endangered animal species

“…On the other hand, only 17% of the studies were performed both in the field and also under controlled environments (i.e. mesocosms, aquariums, lab tanks, and artificial ponds, among others) (Dejean et al, 2011;Ito and Shibaike, 2021;Ladell et al, 2019;Matejusova et al, 2021;Mauvisseau et al, 2018;Mizumoto et al, 2018;Takeuchi et al, 2019;Troth et al, 2020;Turner et al, 2015;Yoshitake et al, 2019), and an even lower percentage was conducted exclusively under controlled conditions (8.7%) Mizumoto et al, 2018;Seymour et al, 2018;Stoeckle et al, 2017) (Fig. 8, Table S2).…”

“…The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 14, 2023. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.13.544783 doi: bioRxiv preprint Goldberg et al, 2011); reptiles (Adams et al, 2019;Tarof et al, 2021); molluscs (Blackman et al, 2020;Goldberg et al, 2013;Ito and Shibaike, 2021;Mauvisseau et al, 2017;Miralles et al, 2019;Xia et al, 2018b) or crustaceans (Baudry et al, 2021;Harper et al, 2018a); but with no correlations being also found in some other studies, e.g., reptiles (Raemy and Ursenbacher, 2018) and crustaceans ; iii) organism size and developmental stage, with fish eDNA release rates being found to be higher in adults than in juveniles (Maruyama et al, 2014;Mizumoto et al, 2018), but no effect was found when eDNA concentration is adjusted taking into account total biomass (Mizumoto et al, 2018). For crustaceans, the presence of eggs increased eDNA concentrations per unit of mass (Crane et al, 2021;Dunn et al, 2017).…”

Limnoperna fortuneias an invasive biofouling bivalve species in freshwater: a review of its occurrence, biological traits, risks, and control strategies

“…It was then found in eastern Japan, including the Tokai and Kanto regions and the Yahagi River system in the 2000s and 2004, respectively (Ito 2015). One year later, the invasion of L. fortunei was reported in the Kabura-Gawa irrigation canal leading from the Ohshio Reservoir, and in Lake Kasumigaura (Sunoh 2006;Ito 2007Ito , 2015Ito & Shibaike 2021). In 2007, L. fortunei was found in the Tone River up to about 120 km from the estuary (Ito 2012).…”