Assessing Brook Trout populations in headwater streams of the Adirondack Mountains using environmental DNA -- Summary report

NYSERDA Report 17-02
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Abstract

This project evaluated standard fish-survey and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling methods to determine the ability of eDNA to accurately predict the presence and abundance of resident Brook Trout populations in 40 headwater streams mainly in the western Adirondack Mountains during 2014–2015 (Figure 2). Standard 3-pass electrofishing surveys found that Brook Trout were absent from about 25 percent of study sites, and at low densities in 25 percent of sites, moderate densities in 25 percent of sites, and high densities in 25 percent of sites. Environmental DNA results correctly predicted the presence/absence of Brook Trout in 85.0 to 92.5 percent of study sites and explained 44.0 percent of the variability in density and 24 percent of the variability in biomass of their populations. The findings indicate that eDNA surveys will enable researchers to effectively characterize the presence as well as the abundance of Brook Trout and other species populations in headwater streams across the Adirondack Mountains and elsewhere.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype State or Local Government Series
Title Assessing Brook Trout populations in headwater streams of the Adirondack Mountains using environmental DNA -- Summary report
Series title NYSERDA Report
Series number 17-02
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Contributing office(s) New York Water Science Center
Description iv, 13 p.
Country United States
State New York
Other Geospatial Adirondack Park
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