Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods for detecting aquatic species are advancing rapidly, but with little evaluation of field protocols or precision of resulting estimates. We compared sampling results from traditional field methods with eDNA methods for two amphibians in 13 streams in central Idaho, USA. We also evaluated three water collection protocols and the influence of sampling location, time of day, and distance from animals on eDNA concentration in the water. We found no difference in detection or amount of eDNA among water collection protocols. eDNA methods had slightly higher detection rates than traditional field methods, particularly when species occurred at low densities. eDNA concentration was positively related to field-measured density, biomass, and proportion of transects occupied. Precision of eDNA-based abundance estimates increased with the amount of eDNA in the water and the number of replicate subsamples collected. eDNA concentration did not vary significantly with sample location in the stream, time of day, or distance downstream from animals. Our results further advance the implementation of eDNA methods for monitoring aquatic vertebrates in stream habitats.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Estimating occupancy and abundance of stream amphibians using environmental DNA from filtered water samples
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2013-0047
Volume 70
Issue 8
Year Published 2013
Language English
Publisher NRC Research Press
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 8 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
First page 1123
Last page 1130
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