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CC BY-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Smooth-coated otter and North American beaver detection with Environmental DNA: Informing sampling design for conservation management
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
01/2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000003150
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125034
Abstract
The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) can be an effective tool for detecting the presence of elusive or low-density organisms and has been demonstrated in some cases to be more effective at detecting small populations of wildlife than traditional monitoring methods. The majority of aquatic vertebrate eDNA studies, however, have focused on aquatic species such as fish and amphibians, which have high detection rates in water samples. Detection of semi-aquatic mammals using eDNA methods has been limited and has shown lower detection rates than other species. Effective monitoring of semi-aquatic mammals is especially important for species used as restoration tools or ecological indicators of ecosystem health. Whether eDNA is useful for monitoring semi-aquatic mammals is uncertain due to lower amounts of DNA introduced into the system and the environmental conditions that can decrease the probability of eDNA detection. Additionally, semi-aquatic mammals vary in their behaviors and interactions with the aquatic environment, highlighting the need for species-specific eDNA monitoring protocols. We used eDNA to detect the presence of two semi-aquatic mammal species. We conducted a pilot study to test the sensitivity of eDNA methods for detecting Lutrogale perspicillata in mangrove ecosystems in India. We found our assay to be effective in detecting smooth-coated otters within the mangrove ecosystem of Goa. Our results show that the probability of detection likely decreases with time and could be affected by tidal movements.
We also investigated the utility of eDNA detection methods for surveying and monitoring Castor canadensis. We conducted paired visual and eDNA surveys and tested three different sample collection and filtering methods. We also evaluated hypotheses of factors influencing eDNA detection. We found that eDNA sampling was effective for detecting North American beaver at sites with and without visual signs of their presence. The most efficient and effective method of eDNA sample collection was point sampling with the Smith-Root eDNA Sampler Backpack. We also found that detection probability increased with higher sample volumes. Our results show that careful and species-specific eDNA sampling methods can be an effective tool in the monitoring of semi-aquatic species.
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Details
- Title
- Smooth-coated otter and North American beaver detection with Environmental DNA: Informing sampling design for conservation management
- Creators
- Alexandra Christine Kahler Duke
- Contributors
- Caren Goldberg (Advisor)Lisa Shipley (Advisor)Jonah Piovia-Scott (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Environment, School of the (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 59
- Identifiers
- 99900652003201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis