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Using eDNA to estimate distribution of fish species in the St. Louis River
Citation:
Hatzenbuhler, C., W. Chadderton, J. Hoffman, S. Okum, B. Olds, E. Pilgrim, A. Trebitz, A. Tucker, AND M. Wrenshaw. Using eDNA to estimate distribution of fish species in the St. Louis River. St. Louis River Summit, Superior, WI, March 14 - 15, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
not applicable
Description:
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of extracellular material shed by aquatic organisms is a noninvasive genetic tool that can improve efficiency and reduce costs associated with species detection in aquatic systems. eDNA methods are widely used to assess presence/absence of a target species, and have also recently demonstrated potential for estimating biodiversity in controlled environments. Here we apply eDNA methods to estimate distribution of fish species in a larger and more complex system, the St. Louis River. The St. Louis River provides a suitable study area because fish diversity and species distribution in the St. Louis River is well documented, thanks to past and ongoing fishery assessment and invasive species early detection monitoring efforts by the U.S. EPA, U.S. FWS, and state and tribal agencies. For analysis of fish eDNA, water samples were collected from 240 randomly selected sites extending from the Duluth-Superior Harbor and Allouez Bay up to the Fond du Lac Dam; 120 sites were sampled in mid-June and another 120 in late October. At 30 sites, an additional water sample was collected for an inter-lab comparison of results obtained using identical processing methods at independent labs. Results from our study provide insight into the utility of eDNA methods for estimating fish distribution in large, complex aquatic systems and begin to inform us about how these methods can be operationalized for use by management agencies.