Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring is rapidly becoming an established approach for detecting the presence of aquatic organisms and may also be useful for indexing or estimating species abundance. However, the link between eDNA concentration and abundance of individuals (i.e., density or bi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Environmental DNA |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.332 |
| _version_ | 1811218249134637056 |
|---|---|
| author | Brie‐Anne A. Breton Lynne Beaty Amanda M. Bennett Christopher J. Kyle David Lesbarrères Sibelle Torres Vilaça Madison J. H. Wikston Chris C. Wilson Dennis L. Murray |
| author_facet | Brie‐Anne A. Breton Lynne Beaty Amanda M. Bennett Christopher J. Kyle David Lesbarrères Sibelle Torres Vilaça Madison J. H. Wikston Chris C. Wilson Dennis L. Murray |
| author_sort | Brie‐Anne A. Breton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring is rapidly becoming an established approach for detecting the presence of aquatic organisms and may also be useful for indexing or estimating species abundance. However, the link between eDNA concentration and abundance of individuals (i.e., density or biomass) remains tenuous and may vary widely across species and environmental conditions. We investigated the relationship between eDNA concentration and abundance in two common and closely related amphibians in eastern North America, the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), and northern leopard frog (R. pipiens). We manipulated tadpole density in 80‐L mesocosms and documented the relationship between tadpole density and biomass and eDNA concentration through time. The two species differed in the amount of detectible genetic material produced, despite having comparable biomass. Concentration of eDNA increased with tadpole numbers and was primarily correlated with tadpole density in wood frogs and biomass in leopard frogs. eDNA degradation rates were rapid and comparable between species, with tadpoles becoming indetectable within 5 days post‐removal from the mesocosm, irrespective of tadpole density. Overall, our findings support that eDNA concentration has potential for tracking amphibian abundance in wetlands, but that indices of abundance are likely to be coarse and species‐specific calibration will be required. Future research should address how biotic and abiotic factors influence eDNA production, degradation, and recovery across species and through time before relying on eDNA for monitoring amphibian abundance in nature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:07:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f1949913dfd94c72af2fba148b67ee09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2637-4943 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:07:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental DNA |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1949913dfd94c72af2fba148b67ee092022-12-22T03:42:45ZengWileyEnvironmental DNA2637-49432022-11-01461229124010.1002/edn3.332Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundanceBrie‐Anne A. Breton0Lynne Beaty1Amanda M. Bennett2Christopher J. Kyle3David Lesbarrères4Sibelle Torres Vilaça5Madison J. H. Wikston6Chris C. Wilson7Dennis L. Murray8Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaBiology Department Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaEnvironmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaEnvironmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaGenetics and Ecology of Amphibian Research Group (GEARG), Department of Biology Laurentian University Sudbury Ontario CanadaEnvironmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaEnvironmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaAquatic Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaEnvironmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program Trent University Peterborough Ontario CanadaAbstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring is rapidly becoming an established approach for detecting the presence of aquatic organisms and may also be useful for indexing or estimating species abundance. However, the link between eDNA concentration and abundance of individuals (i.e., density or biomass) remains tenuous and may vary widely across species and environmental conditions. We investigated the relationship between eDNA concentration and abundance in two common and closely related amphibians in eastern North America, the wood frog (Rana sylvatica), and northern leopard frog (R. pipiens). We manipulated tadpole density in 80‐L mesocosms and documented the relationship between tadpole density and biomass and eDNA concentration through time. The two species differed in the amount of detectible genetic material produced, despite having comparable biomass. Concentration of eDNA increased with tadpole numbers and was primarily correlated with tadpole density in wood frogs and biomass in leopard frogs. eDNA degradation rates were rapid and comparable between species, with tadpoles becoming indetectable within 5 days post‐removal from the mesocosm, irrespective of tadpole density. Overall, our findings support that eDNA concentration has potential for tracking amphibian abundance in wetlands, but that indices of abundance are likely to be coarse and species‐specific calibration will be required. Future research should address how biotic and abiotic factors influence eDNA production, degradation, and recovery across species and through time before relying on eDNA for monitoring amphibian abundance in nature.https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.332 |
| spellingShingle | Brie‐Anne A. Breton Lynne Beaty Amanda M. Bennett Christopher J. Kyle David Lesbarrères Sibelle Torres Vilaça Madison J. H. Wikston Chris C. Wilson Dennis L. Murray Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance Environmental DNA |
| title | Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| title_full | Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| title_fullStr | Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| title_short | Testing the effectiveness of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| title_sort | testing the effectiveness of environmental dna edna to quantify larval amphibian abundance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.332 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brieanneabreton testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT lynnebeaty testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT amandambennett testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT christopherjkyle testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT davidlesbarreres testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT sibelletorresvilaca testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT madisonjhwikston testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT chriscwilson testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance AT dennislmurray testingtheeffectivenessofenvironmentaldnaednatoquantifylarvalamphibianabundance |