You are here:
Leveraging approaches for early detection monitoring of invasive fish introductions to the Great Lakes
Citation:
Hoffman, J., G. Peterson, A. Trebitz, C. Hatzenbuhler, J. Myers, J. Ross, S. Okum, AND E. Pilgrim. Leveraging approaches for early detection monitoring of invasive fish introductions to the Great Lakes. Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, St. Cloud, MN, January 31 - February 02, 2023. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.22048154
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation to the Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society February 2023. Developing a bi-national aquatic invasive species early detection surveillance system is a priority under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Ongoing surveillance detection research was being conducted in a Great Lakes introduction “hotspot” when two fishes were introduced over multiple years. Here, we compare the detection sensitivity of traditional detection methods (capturing animals) and taxonomy (morphology) to DNA-based detection methods (eDNA) and taxonomy (metabarcoding). We conclude that using complimentary sampling methods can help to balance the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and provide more reliable early detection of new invaders.
Description:
Assessing relative performance of different sampling methods used for early detection monitoring (EDM) is a critical step in understanding the likelihood of detecting new, previously undetected non-indigenous species (NIS). Typically, EDM performance metrics are based on the probability of detecting established NIS or rare indigenous species; however, detection probability estimates for these proxies may not accurately reflect survey effectiveness for newly introduced NIS. We used data from three different EDM survey approaches for invasive fish monitoring that varied by targeted life-stage (adult–juvenile versus ichthyoplankton), media (physical fish versus environmental DNA), and taxonomic method (morphology-based versus DNA-based taxonomy). The goal was to explore relative detection sensitivity for recently introduced white bass (Morone chrysops) and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) in the Port of Duluth-Superior, a NIS introduction hot spot within the Laurentian Great Lakes. Detection efficiency, measured by the effort (number of samples) required to achieve 95% probability of detection, differed by EDM approach and species. Also, the detection rate of each survey approach differed by species. For both species, detection in surveys using DNA-based taxonomy was generally as good or better than the adult–juvenile survey using morphology-based taxonomy. While both species appear to have been detected at early stages of invasion, white bass were likely present up to 5 years prior to initial detection, whereas gizzard shad may have been detected in the first year of introduction. We conclude that using complimentary sampling methods can help to balance the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and provide more reliable early detection of new invaders.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Leveraging approaches for early detection monitoring of invasive fish introductions to the Great Lakes
HOFFMANJC MNAFS2023 FINAL.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 3600.233 KB, about PDF)