Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques

Abstract Sensitive detection techniques are key to inform management practices for invasive and pest species by identifying the pest species’ distribution or identifying the presence of biological control agents that may negate the need for chemical control. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be detected...

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Main Authors: Catriona D. Campbell, Dianne M. Gleeson, Elise M. Furlan, Kate A. Muirhead, Valerie Caron
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-07-01
Series:Environmental DNA
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.295
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author Catriona D. Campbell
Dianne M. Gleeson
Elise M. Furlan
Kate A. Muirhead
Valerie Caron
author_facet Catriona D. Campbell
Dianne M. Gleeson
Elise M. Furlan
Kate A. Muirhead
Valerie Caron
author_sort Catriona D. Campbell
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sensitive detection techniques are key to inform management practices for invasive and pest species by identifying the pest species’ distribution or identifying the presence of biological control agents that may negate the need for chemical control. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be detected to infer the presence of rare, cryptic, and invasive species. This study provides a method that expands the application of eDNA techniques within terrestrial systems. Our study is focused on a cryptic biological control agent of the pointed snail Cochlicella acuta, the fly parasitoid Sarcophaga villeneuveana, which remains within the snail shell for most of its lifecycle, making it difficult to detect. Three sites were sampled using traditional surveys and three types of eDNA sampling 1/ crushing live snails, 2/ water washing live snails, old snail shells or vegetation, and 3/ vacuuming live snails or vegetation. An assay was developed to amplify a 129 bp fragment of S. villeneuveana, with positive detections recorded in crushed snail samples, water washed live snail, water washed vegetation, and laboratory vacuumed vegetation. Presence of the endoparasitoid was validated by traditional survey techniques conducted at the same time, indicating that all techniques tested are comparable for detection of the parasitoid. The new technique which only requires a small vegetation sample from the field post‐harvest and a portable vacuum has great potential to be applied to other insects and environments, particularly cryptic species, pests, and biological control agents in crops.
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spelling doaj.art-8c9770e2a79c437f979608bde9a7322d2022-12-22T02:06:40ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432022-07-014482082910.1002/edn3.295Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniquesCatriona D. Campbell0Dianne M. Gleeson1Elise M. Furlan2Kate A. Muirhead3Valerie Caron4Health and Biosecurity CSIRO Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaCentre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Bruce Australian Capital Territory AustraliaCentre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics Institute for Applied Ecology University of Canberra Bruce Australian Capital Territory AustraliaSouth Australian Research and Development Institute (PIRSA ‐ SARDI) Urrbrae South Australia AustraliaHealth and Biosecurity CSIRO Acton Australian Capital Territory AustraliaAbstract Sensitive detection techniques are key to inform management practices for invasive and pest species by identifying the pest species’ distribution or identifying the presence of biological control agents that may negate the need for chemical control. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be detected to infer the presence of rare, cryptic, and invasive species. This study provides a method that expands the application of eDNA techniques within terrestrial systems. Our study is focused on a cryptic biological control agent of the pointed snail Cochlicella acuta, the fly parasitoid Sarcophaga villeneuveana, which remains within the snail shell for most of its lifecycle, making it difficult to detect. Three sites were sampled using traditional surveys and three types of eDNA sampling 1/ crushing live snails, 2/ water washing live snails, old snail shells or vegetation, and 3/ vacuuming live snails or vegetation. An assay was developed to amplify a 129 bp fragment of S. villeneuveana, with positive detections recorded in crushed snail samples, water washed live snail, water washed vegetation, and laboratory vacuumed vegetation. Presence of the endoparasitoid was validated by traditional survey techniques conducted at the same time, indicating that all techniques tested are comparable for detection of the parasitoid. The new technique which only requires a small vegetation sample from the field post‐harvest and a portable vacuum has great potential to be applied to other insects and environments, particularly cryptic species, pests, and biological control agents in crops.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.295biological controlCochlicella acutacropcryptic speciesdetectioneDNA sampling
spellingShingle Catriona D. Campbell
Dianne M. Gleeson
Elise M. Furlan
Kate A. Muirhead
Valerie Caron
Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
Environmental DNA
biological control
Cochlicella acuta
crop
cryptic species
detection
eDNA sampling
title Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
title_full Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
title_fullStr Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
title_full_unstemmed Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
title_short Detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel eDNA collection techniques
title_sort detection of a cryptic terrestrial insect using novel edna collection techniques
topic biological control
Cochlicella acuta
crop
cryptic species
detection
eDNA sampling
url https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.295
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AT elisemfurlan detectionofacrypticterrestrialinsectusingnovelednacollectiontechniques
AT kateamuirhead detectionofacrypticterrestrialinsectusingnovelednacollectiontechniques
AT valeriecaron detectionofacrypticterrestrialinsectusingnovelednacollectiontechniques