Improving Conservation Efforts for Sportfish and Waterfowl - Developing eDNA tools for use in Aquatic Invasive Species detection

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) can have drastic impacts on populations of waterfowl and sportfish through a variety of environmental impacts including habitat alterations, outcompeting native prey items, and altering food web dynamics. In 2020, it was estimated that AIS cost the US at least 23 billion dollars. Early detection of AIS can be critical in enabling managers to provide rapid response measures to prevent the establishment or further spread of AIS, along with directing limited restoration funds. Detecting AIS can be costly and time-intensive when traditional sampling methods are used. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful tool for biodiversity assessments and the early detection of AIS, but eDNA assays are missing for most aquatic plants. Aquatic plants are key indicators of ecosystem health and popular targets worldwide for biodiversity monitoring and restoration. Invasive plants are often accidentally introduced into new waterbodies at distinct use points, like boat landings. At new invasion sites, traditional field-based plant surveys typically detect the invasive only after the plant is established in high abundance and, therefore, difficult or impossible to eradicate. Using eDNA metabarcoding can provide detection data simultaneously for entire communities, including invasives. The MinION is a portable sequencer that allows multiple species identification completely in the field, with results available within 1-2 days, and can be conducted by field personnel with appropriate training. We propose identifying metabarcoding markers and optimizing MinION protocols to detect up to 40 invasive plants so resource managers could quickly and more cost-effectively conduct eDNA surveillance of waterbodies with high invasion risk or management needs. The tool would aid early detection and rapid response of AIS and initiate eDNA biodiversity assessments.