Development and application of eDNA-based tools for the conservation of white-clawed crayfish
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Development and application of ...
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2022-07-30
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Authors
Troth, Christopher R.Burian, Alfred
Mauvisseau, Quentin
Bulling, Mark
Nightingale, Jen
Mauvisseau, Christophe
Sweet, Michael J.
Affiliation
University of DerbyUniversity of Bristol
Fédération de Pêche et de Protection du Milieu Aquatique du Loir-et-Cher, France
Issue Date
2020-07-30
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eDNA-based methods represent non-invasive and cost-effective approaches for species monitoring and their application as a conservation tool has rapidly increased within the last decade. Currently, they are primarily used to determine the presence/absence of invasive, endangered or commercially important species, but they also hold potential to contribute to an improved understanding of the ecological interactions that drive species distributions. However, this next step of eDNA-based applications requires a thorough method development. We developed an eDNA assay for the white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), a flagship species of conservation in the UK and Western Europe. Multiple subsequent in-situ and ex-situ validation tests aimed at improving method performance allowed us to apply eDNA-based surveys to evaluate interactions between white-clawed crayfish, crayfish plague and invasive signal crayfish. The assay performed well in terms of specificity (no detection of non-target DNA) and sensitivity, which was higher compared to traditional methods (in this case torching). The eDNA-based quantification of species biomass was, however, less reliable. Comparison of eDNA sampling methods (precipitation vs. various filtration approaches) revealed that optimal sampling method differed across environments and might depend on inhibitor concentrations. Finally, we applied our methodology together with established assays for crayfish plague and the invasive signal crayfish, demonstrating their significant interactions in a UK river system. Our analysis highlights the importance of thorough methodological development of eDNA-based assays. Only a critical evaluation of methodological strengths and weaknesses will allow us to capitalise on the full potential of eDNA-based methods and use them as decision support tools in environmental monitoring and conservation practice.Citation
Troth, C.R., Burian, A., Mauvisseau, Q., Bulling, M., Nightingale, J., Mauvisseau, C. and Sweet, M.J., (2020). 'Development and application of eDNA-based tools for the conservation of white-clawed crayfish'. Science of The Total Environment, pp. 1-40.Publisher
ElsevierJournal
Science of The Total EnvironmentDOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.14139410.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141394
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ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0048-9697ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141394
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