A noninvasive eDNA tool for detecting sea lamprey larvae in river sediments: Analytical validation and field testing in a low-abundance ecosystem

Authors: Baltazar-Soares, M., Pinder, A.C., Harrison, A.J., Oliver, W., Picken, J., Britton, J.R. and Andreou, D.

Journal: Journal of Fish Biology

Volume: 100

Issue: 6

Pages: 1455-1463

eISSN: 1095-8649

ISSN: 0022-1112

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15056

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly threatening aquatic biodiversity, especially anadromous species. Monitoring and conservation measures are thus required to protect, maintain and restore imperilled populations. While many species can be surveyed using traditional capture and visual census techniques, species that use riverine habitats in a less conspicuous manner, such as sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, can be more challenging to monitor. Sea lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) can spend several years in freshwater burrowed within soft sediments, inhibiting their detection and assessment. Here, we present a qPCR assay based on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify the presence of ammocoetes burrowed in the sediment. We present an extensively validated method that ensured both species-specificity of the assay as well as the capacity to detect ammocoetes when abundances are low. Experiments on burrowing activity suggested that most of the DNA released into the sediment occurs during burrowing. Overall, we demonstrate this new molecular-based tool is an efficient and effective complement to traditional monitoring activities targeting larval stages of sea lampreys.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36882/

Source: Scopus

A noninvasive eDNA tool for detecting sea lamprey larvae in river sediments: Analytical validation and field testing in a low-abundance ecosystem.

Authors: Baltazar-Soares, M., Pinder, A.C., Harrison, A.J., Oliver, W., Picken, J., Britton, J.R. and Andreou, D.

Journal: J Fish Biol

Volume: 100

Issue: 6

Pages: 1455-1463

eISSN: 1095-8649

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15056

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly threatening aquatic biodiversity, especially anadromous species. Monitoring and conservation measures are thus required to protect, maintain and restore imperilled populations. While many species can be surveyed using traditional capture and visual census techniques, species that use riverine habitats in a less conspicuous manner, such as sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, can be more challenging to monitor. Sea lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) can spend several years in freshwater burrowed within soft sediments, inhibiting their detection and assessment. Here, we present a qPCR assay based on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify the presence of ammocoetes burrowed in the sediment. We present an extensively validated method that ensured both species-specificity of the assay as well as the capacity to detect ammocoetes when abundances are low. Experiments on burrowing activity suggested that most of the DNA released into the sediment occurs during burrowing. Overall, we demonstrate this new molecular-based tool is an efficient and effective complement to traditional monitoring activities targeting larval stages of sea lampreys.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36882/

Source: PubMed

A noninvasive eDNA tool for detecting sea lamprey larvae in river sediments: Analytical validation and field testing in a low-abundance ecosystem

Authors: Baltazar-Soares, M., Pinder, A.C., Harrison, A.J., Oliver, W., Picken, J., Britton, J.R. and Andreou, D.

Journal: JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY

Volume: 100

Issue: 6

Pages: 1455-1463

eISSN: 1095-8649

ISSN: 0022-1112

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15056

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36882/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

A noninvasive eDNA tool for detecting sea lamprey larvae in river sediments: Analytical validation and field testing in a low-abundance ecosystem.

Authors: Baltazar-Soares, M., Pinder, A.C., Harrison, A.J., Oliver, W., Picken, J., Britton, J.R. and Andreou, D.

Journal: Journal of fish biology

Volume: 100

Issue: 6

Pages: 1455-1463

eISSN: 1095-8649

ISSN: 0022-1112

DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15056

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly threatening aquatic biodiversity, especially anadromous species. Monitoring and conservation measures are thus required to protect, maintain and restore imperilled populations. While many species can be surveyed using traditional capture and visual census techniques, species that use riverine habitats in a less conspicuous manner, such as sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, can be more challenging to monitor. Sea lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) can spend several years in freshwater burrowed within soft sediments, inhibiting their detection and assessment. Here, we present a qPCR assay based on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify the presence of ammocoetes burrowed in the sediment. We present an extensively validated method that ensured both species-specificity of the assay as well as the capacity to detect ammocoetes when abundances are low. Experiments on burrowing activity suggested that most of the DNA released into the sediment occurs during burrowing. Overall, we demonstrate this new molecular-based tool is an efficient and effective complement to traditional monitoring activities targeting larval stages of sea lampreys.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36882/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

A noninvasive eDNA tool for detecting sea lamprey larvae in river sediments: Analytical validation and field testing in a low-abundance ecosystem.

Authors: Baltazar-Soares, M., Pinder, A.C., Harrison, A., Oliver, W., Picken, J., Britton, J.R. and Andreou, D.

Journal: Journal of Fish Biology

Volume: 100

Issue: 6

Pages: 1455-1463

ISSN: 0022-1112

Abstract:

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly threatening aquatic biodiversity, especially anadromous species. Monitoring and conservation measures are thus required to protect, maintain and restore imperilled populations. While many species can be surveyed using traditional capture and visual census techniques, species that use riverine habitats in a less conspicuous manner, such as sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, can be more challenging to monitor. Sea lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) can spend several years in freshwater burrowed within soft sediments, inhibiting their detection and assessment. Here, we present a qPCR assay based on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) to identify the presence of ammocoetes burrowed in the sediment. We present an extensively validated method that ensured both species-specificity of the assay as well as the capacity to detect ammocoetes when abundances are low. Experiments on burrowing activity suggested that most of the DNA released into the sediment occurs during burrowing. Overall, we demonstrate this new molecular-based tool is an efficient and effective complement to traditional monitoring activities targeting larval stages of sea lampreys.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/36882/

Source: BURO EPrints