Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events
The timing and location of spawning events are important data for managers seeking to control invasive grass carp populations. Ichthyoplankton tows for grass carp eggs and larvae can be used to detect spawning events; however, these samples can be highly debris-laden, and are expensive and laborious...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/5/3/27 |
| _version_ | 1827707446023421952 |
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| author | Cari-Ann Hayer Michael F. Bayless Amy George Nathan Thompson Catherine A. Richter Duane C. Chapman |
| author_facet | Cari-Ann Hayer Michael F. Bayless Amy George Nathan Thompson Catherine A. Richter Duane C. Chapman |
| author_sort | Cari-Ann Hayer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The timing and location of spawning events are important data for managers seeking to control invasive grass carp populations. Ichthyoplankton tows for grass carp eggs and larvae can be used to detect spawning events; however, these samples can be highly debris-laden, and are expensive and laborious to process. An alternative method, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology, has proven effective in determining the presence of aquatic species. The objectives of this project were to assess the use of eDNA collections and quantitative eDNA analysis to assess the potential spawning of grass carp in five reservoir tributaries, and to compare those results to the more traditional method of ichthyoplankton tows. Grass carp eDNA was detected in 56% of sampling occasions and was detected in all five rivers. Concentrations of grass carp eDNA were orders of magnitude higher in June, corresponding to elevated discharge and egg presence. Grass carp environmental DNA flux (copies/h) was lower when no eggs were present and was higher when velocities and discharge increased and eggs were present. There was a positive relationship between grass carp eDNA flux and egg flux. Our results support the further development of eDNA analysis as a method to detect the spawning events of grass carp or other rheophilic spawners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:46:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4c7506cebab646d99fde3b8aacb0670a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:46:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c7506cebab646d99fde3b8aacb0670a2023-11-20T11:32:14ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882020-08-015327010.3390/fishes5030027Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning EventsCari-Ann Hayer0Michael F. Bayless1Amy George2Nathan Thompson3Catherine A. Richter4Duane C. Chapman5US Fish and Wildlife Service; Green Bay Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, 2661 Scott Tower Drive, New Franken, WI 54229, USAMissouri Department of Conservation, 2010 South Second St, Clinton, MO 64735, USAUS Geological Survey; Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USAUS Geological Survey; Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USAUS Geological Survey; Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USAUS Geological Survey; Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USAThe timing and location of spawning events are important data for managers seeking to control invasive grass carp populations. Ichthyoplankton tows for grass carp eggs and larvae can be used to detect spawning events; however, these samples can be highly debris-laden, and are expensive and laborious to process. An alternative method, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology, has proven effective in determining the presence of aquatic species. The objectives of this project were to assess the use of eDNA collections and quantitative eDNA analysis to assess the potential spawning of grass carp in five reservoir tributaries, and to compare those results to the more traditional method of ichthyoplankton tows. Grass carp eDNA was detected in 56% of sampling occasions and was detected in all five rivers. Concentrations of grass carp eDNA were orders of magnitude higher in June, corresponding to elevated discharge and egg presence. Grass carp environmental DNA flux (copies/h) was lower when no eggs were present and was higher when velocities and discharge increased and eggs were present. There was a positive relationship between grass carp eDNA flux and egg flux. Our results support the further development of eDNA analysis as a method to detect the spawning events of grass carp or other rheophilic spawners.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/5/3/27aquatic invasive speciesreservoir ecosystemsichthyoplanktonAsian carp |
| spellingShingle | Cari-Ann Hayer Michael F. Bayless Amy George Nathan Thompson Catherine A. Richter Duane C. Chapman Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events Fishes aquatic invasive species reservoir ecosystems ichthyoplankton Asian carp |
| title | Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events |
| title_full | Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events |
| title_fullStr | Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events |
| title_short | Use of Environmental DNA to Detect Grass Carp Spawning Events |
| title_sort | use of environmental dna to detect grass carp spawning events |
| topic | aquatic invasive species reservoir ecosystems ichthyoplankton Asian carp |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/5/3/27 |
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