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Detecting the movement and spawning activity of bigheaded carps with environmental DNA
Author(s) -
Erickson Richard A.,
Rees Christopher B.,
Coulter Alison A.,
Merkes Christopher M.,
McCalla Sunnie G.,
Touzinsky Katherine F.,
Walleser Liza,
Goforth Reuben R.,
Amberg Jon J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/1755-0998.12533
Subject(s) - environmental dna , biology , abundance (ecology) , ecology , habitat , carp , relative species abundance , fishery , hydrography , cyprinidae , fish <actinopterygii> , biodiversity , geography , cartography
Bigheaded carps are invasive fishes threatening to invade the Great Lakes basin and establish spawning populations, and have been monitored using environmental DNA ( eDNA ). Not only does eDNA hold potential for detecting the presence of species, but may also allow for quantitative comparisons like relative abundance of species across time or space. We examined the relationships among bigheaded carp movement, hydrography, spawning and eDNA on the Wabash River, IN , USA . We found positive relationships between eDNA and movement and eDNA and hydrography. We did not find a relationship between eDNA and spawning activity in the form of drifting eggs. Our first finding demonstrates how eDNA may be used to monitor species abundance, whereas our second finding illustrates the need for additional research into eDNA methodologies. Current applications of eDNA are widespread, but the relatively new technology requires further refinement.