Detection of an enigmatic plethodontid Salamander using Environmental DNA
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The isolation and identification of environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a non-invasive and efficient method for the detection of rare and secretive aquatic wildlife, and it is being widely integrated into inventory and monitoring efforts. The Patch-Nosed Salamander (Urspelerpes brucei) is a tiny, recently discovered species of plethodontid salamander known only from headwater streams in a small region of Georgia and South Carolina. Here, we present results of a quantitative PCR-based eDNA assay capable of detecting Urspelerpes in more than 75% of 33 samples from five confirmed streams. We deployed the method at 31 additional streams and located three previously undocumented populations of Urspelerpes. We compare the results of our eDNA assay with our attempt to use aquatic leaf litterbags for the rapid detection of Urspelerpes and demonstrate the relative efficacy of the eDNA assay. We suggest that eDNA offers great potential for use in detecting other aquatic and semi-aquatic plethodontid salamanders.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Detection of an enigmatic plethodontid Salamander using Environmental DNA |
| Series title | Copeia |
| DOI | 10.1643/CH-14-202 |
| Volume | 104 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists |
| Contributing office(s) | Georgia Water Science Center |
| Description | 5 p. |
| First page | 78 |
| Last page | 82 |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |