Concentrations of environmental DNA (eDNA) reflect spawning salmon abundance at fine spatial and temporal scales

Tillotson, Michael D.; Kelly, Ryan P.; Duda, Jeffrey J.; Hoy, Marshal S.; Kralj, James; Quinn, Thomas P.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.01.030

Cited by 234 publications

(292 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Given our finding that larger FPM aggregations can be detected over long distances, rivers may be efficiently surveyed for such aggregations by collecting water samples in accordingly large intervals. Studies that have quantified eDNA concentrations have found either decreasing concentrations (Nukazawa et al, 2018;Tillotson et al, 2018) or stable concentrations (Sansom & Sassoubre, 2017) over river distances between 250 m and 3 km. With a better understanding of eDNA transport and decay, this may be addressed by models that account for these variables (Carraro et al, 2018;Cerco, Schultz, Noel, Skahill, & Kim, 2018;Sansom & Sassoubre, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aquatic organisms can be detected using eDNA methods, often at higher sensitivity than with conventional methods (Wilcox et al, 2016). Efforts have also been made to use eDNA concentrations to estimate species abundance (Tillotson et al, 2018). Abundance estimates are challenging due to high variability in both the rates at which DNA is shed into the environment (Sansom & Sassoubre, 2017) and how quickly eDNA degrades (Barnes et al, 2014) and is deposited (Jerde et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Knowledge on how environmental variables affect eDNA decay and transport may help to predict eDNA concentrations in dependence of species abundance (Carraro, Hartikainen, Jokela, Bertuzzo, & Rinaldo, 2018;Chambert, Pilliod, Goldberg, Doi, & Takahara, 2018;Shogren et al, 2017;Wilcox et al, 2016). However, only a few field studies have explored the relationship between the spatial distributions of individuals and eDNA concentrations in natural lotic systems (Doi et al, 2017;Spear, Groves, Williams, & Waits, 2015;Tillotson et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2016). While some of the existing studies concluded that eDNA concentrations primarily reflect local abundance (Doi et al, 2017;Tillotson et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2016), Spear et al (2015) found extensive downstream transport and accumulation of eDNA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, only a few field studies have explored the relationship between the spatial distributions of individuals and eDNA concentrations in natural lotic systems (Doi et al, 2017;Spear, Groves, Williams, & Waits, 2015;Tillotson et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2016). While some of the existing studies concluded that eDNA concentrations primarily reflect local abundance (Doi et al, 2017;Tillotson et al, 2018;Wilcox et al, 2016), Spear et al (2015) found extensive downstream transport and accumulation of eDNA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies on downstream transport of eDNA have reported highly variable results on eDNA detection distances(Deiner & Altermatt, 2014;Pilliod et al, 2014;Pont et al, 2018;Stoeckle et al, 2016) and changes in eDNA concentration during downstream transport(Jane et al, 2015;Nukazawa, Hamasuna, & Suzuki, 2018;Sansom & Sassoubre, 2017;Tillotson Efficient transport of eDNA explains that concentrations were equally high 1,700 m downstream.…”

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confidence: 97%

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Downstream transport and seasonal variation in freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) eDNA concentration

et al. 2019

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Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to detect the presence and abundance of aquatic organisms from water samples. Before implementing this methodology as a tool for monitoring, more knowledge is needed on variation in eDNA concentrations in relation to species abundance and potential confounding factors. Shedding and decay of eDNA may vary extensively over the season and are dependent on environmental factors such as water temperature and on biological processes such as activity level and reproduction. In lotic systems, eDNA concentrations are also affected by downstream transport of eDNA. Sessile freshwater mussels provide an ideal study system for investigating the relationship between species spatial distribution and eDNA concentrations in lotic systems. We quantified freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) eDNA concentrations at four localities in a natural river with detailed knowledge of mussel spatial distribution: (a) upstream of the known species distribution, just downstream (b) a small and (c) a large aggregation and (d) 1,700 m downstream of the large aggregation. To study seasonal variation, we quantified eDNA concentrations during three periods: (a) in late spring, with cold water and relatively inactive mussels; (b) in mid-summer, with higher water temperature and active mussel filtration; and (c) in late summer, during the release of larvae.Species detection was highly reliable, with no detection of eDNA upstream of the species distribution and complete detection downstream of the large aggregation.Detection success of the small aggregation was low, with 13% of the samples testing positive. Downstream transport was efficient, with no significant decrease in eDNA concentrations over 1,700 m river distance. Seasonal variation was strong, with a 20-fold increase in eDNA concentrations from late spring to late summer, during reproduction. Our results highlight both the potential and challenges of eDNA monitoring in lotic systems. K E Y W O R D Sconservation genetics, environmental DNA, freshwater mussels, species detection, unionidae | 65 WACKER Et Al.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 97%

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Downstream transport and seasonal variation in freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) eDNA concentration

et al. 2019

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Emerging Frameworks and Tools for Environmental Risk Assessment

Menzie,

Horr,

Kashuba

et al. 2024

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment

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Environmental DNA reveals the temporal and spatial extent of spawning migrations of European shad in a highly fragmented river basin

Antognazza

Britton

Santis

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Artificial barriers on lowland rivers impede the spawning migrations of anadromous fishes, preventing access to historical spawning areas. In the cryptic European shads Alosa alosa and Alosa fallax ('shad' hereafter), this has resulted in population declines across their range. Conservation programmes aim to facilitate the passage of migrators over these barriers and so require baseline information on the spatial and temporal extent of current migrations.2. Here, a shad-specific environmental DNA (eDNA) assay was used to quantify the spatial extent of shad spawning migrations in the River Severn basin, western England. This basin is characterized by the presence of multiple barriers in the lower catchment. In 2017, the eDNA assay was piloted in the River Teme, an important shad spawning tributary, and then applied in 2018 and 2019 across the lower Severn basin.3. In all years, shad DNA was detected between mid-May and mid-June, with the maximum spatial extent of shad distribution being in early June when shad eDNA was detected upstream of weirs that were generally considered as impassable. In 2018, this included the detection of shad above the most upstream weir on the main River Severn that required individual fish to have passed six weirs. 4. Although barriers inhibit the spawning migrations of shad, this eDNA assay showed that some highly vagile individuals might be able to ascend these barriers and migrate considerable distances upstream. This suggests that efforts to increase the permeability of these barriers could result in relatively high numbers of migrating shad reaching upstream spawning areas. These results demonstrate that this eDNA assay could also be used across their range, to further quantify the spatial extent of their spawning, including in highly fragmented rivers and those where shad are believed to spawn only occasionally and are rarely observed.

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Concentrations of environmental DNA (eDNA) reflect spawning salmon abundance at fine spatial and temporal scales

Cited by 234 publications

References 54 publications

Downstream transport and seasonal variation in freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) eDNA concentration

Downstream transport and seasonal variation in freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) eDNA concentration

Emerging Frameworks and Tools for Environmental Risk Assessment

Environmental DNA reveals the temporal and spatial extent of spawning migrations of European shad in a highly fragmented river basin

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