Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can be a powerful tool for the early detection of invasive organisms. However, research on terrestrial eDNA detection from foliage surfaces has been limited. In this study, we developed methods to capture and detect eDNA using qPCR from an invasive forest p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Environmental DNA |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.317 |
| _version_ | 1818031869969563648 |
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| author | Anish Kirtane Nicholas J. Dietschler Tonya D. Bittner Marshall Bigler Lefebvre Sabrina Celis Katharine O'Connor Nathan Havill Mark C. Whitmore |
| author_facet | Anish Kirtane Nicholas J. Dietschler Tonya D. Bittner Marshall Bigler Lefebvre Sabrina Celis Katharine O'Connor Nathan Havill Mark C. Whitmore |
| author_sort | Anish Kirtane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can be a powerful tool for the early detection of invasive organisms. However, research on terrestrial eDNA detection from foliage surfaces has been limited. In this study, we developed methods to capture and detect eDNA using qPCR from an invasive forest pest, hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), and three of its biological control predators Leucotaraxis piniperda, Leucotaraxis argenticollis, and Laricobius nigrinus. We designed four highly efficient qPCR assays with a low limit of detection (1–10 copies/reaction). The assay targeting A. tsugae was species‐specific. The assays targeting Le. piniperda, and Le. argenticollis were biotype‐specific in addition to being species‐specific demonstrating applications of eDNA analysis beyond species‐level detection. The La. nigrinus assay also detected DNA from closely related and hybridizing Laricobius rubidus. The eDNA methods were evaluated against traditional detection methods. We collected foliage samples from three strata (bottom, middle, and top) of eastern hemlock trees to detect the presence of A. tsugae. The detection of the biological control predators was evaluated using western hemlock foliage samples collected from the predators' native range in western Washington. The eDNA methods had significantly higher positive detection rates (2.8–4.5 times) than conventional methods of all target species. The strata of sampling were not significant in determining the presence of A. tsugae infestation. The eDNA concentration positively correlated with the observed density for all species. This study demonstrates the efficacy of eDNA analysis as a more sensitive tool for early detection of A. tsugae and to track the establishment of its biological control predators. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:58:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b89a7e4bfab846c39c4b33bb0958207a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2637-4943 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:58:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental DNA |
| spelling | doaj.art-b89a7e4bfab846c39c4b33bb0958207a2022-12-22T01:59:53ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432022-09-01451136114910.1002/edn3.317Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetleAnish Kirtane0Nicholas J. Dietschler1Tonya D. Bittner2Marshall Bigler Lefebvre3Sabrina Celis4Katharine O'Connor5Nathan Havill6Mark C. Whitmore7New York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USAUSDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Hamden Connecticut USANew York State hemlock Initiative Cornell University Ithaca New York USAAbstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can be a powerful tool for the early detection of invasive organisms. However, research on terrestrial eDNA detection from foliage surfaces has been limited. In this study, we developed methods to capture and detect eDNA using qPCR from an invasive forest pest, hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), and three of its biological control predators Leucotaraxis piniperda, Leucotaraxis argenticollis, and Laricobius nigrinus. We designed four highly efficient qPCR assays with a low limit of detection (1–10 copies/reaction). The assay targeting A. tsugae was species‐specific. The assays targeting Le. piniperda, and Le. argenticollis were biotype‐specific in addition to being species‐specific demonstrating applications of eDNA analysis beyond species‐level detection. The La. nigrinus assay also detected DNA from closely related and hybridizing Laricobius rubidus. The eDNA methods were evaluated against traditional detection methods. We collected foliage samples from three strata (bottom, middle, and top) of eastern hemlock trees to detect the presence of A. tsugae. The detection of the biological control predators was evaluated using western hemlock foliage samples collected from the predators' native range in western Washington. The eDNA methods had significantly higher positive detection rates (2.8–4.5 times) than conventional methods of all target species. The strata of sampling were not significant in determining the presence of A. tsugae infestation. The eDNA concentration positively correlated with the observed density for all species. This study demonstrates the efficacy of eDNA analysis as a more sensitive tool for early detection of A. tsugae and to track the establishment of its biological control predators.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.317Adelges tsugaebiological controlbiotype‐specific qPCReDNAhemlock woolly adelgidinvasive species |
| spellingShingle | Anish Kirtane Nicholas J. Dietschler Tonya D. Bittner Marshall Bigler Lefebvre Sabrina Celis Katharine O'Connor Nathan Havill Mark C. Whitmore Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle Environmental DNA Adelges tsugae biological control biotype‐specific qPCR eDNA hemlock woolly adelgid invasive species |
| title | Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle |
| title_full | Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle |
| title_fullStr | Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle |
| title_short | Sensitive environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators Leucotaraxis silver flies and a Laricobius beetle |
| title_sort | sensitive environmental dna edna methods to detect hemlock woolly adelgid and its biological control predators leucotaraxis silver flies and a laricobius beetle |
| topic | Adelges tsugae biological control biotype‐specific qPCR eDNA hemlock woolly adelgid invasive species |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.317 |
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