Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program

Abstract Background To determine the presence and abundance of an aquatic species in large waterbodies, especially when populations are at low densities, is highly challenging for conservation biologists. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to offer a noninvasive and cost-effective method to...

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Autores principales:	Dan Yu, Zhongyuan Shen, Tao Chang, Sha Li, Huanzhang Liu
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	BMC 2021
Materias:	Environmental DNA Sturgeon Reproductive stock Droplet digital PCR Ecology QH540-549.5 Evolution QH359-425
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/01d5507fb6d14701af94f2a3e5dee5ea
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:01d5507fb6d14701af94f2a3e5dee5ea2021-12-05T12:04:15ZUsing environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program10.1186/s12862-021-01948-w2730-7182https://doaj.org/article/01d5507fb6d14701af94f2a3e5dee5ea2021-12-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01948-whttps://doaj.org/toc/2730-7182Abstract Background To determine the presence and abundance of an aquatic species in large waterbodies, especially when populations are at low densities, is highly challenging for conservation biologists. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to offer a noninvasive and cost-effective method to complement traditional population monitoring, however, eDNA has not been extensively applied to study large migratory species. Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), is the largest anadromous migratory fish in the Yangtze River, China, and in recent years its population has dramatically declined and spawning has failed, bringing this species to the brink of extinction. In this study, we aim to test the detectability of eDNA methods to determine the presence and relative abundance of reproductive stock of the species and whether eDNA can be used as a tool to reflect behavioral patterns. Chinese sturgeon eDNA was collected from four sites along the spawning ground across an eight month period, to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Results We designed a pair of specific primers for Chinese sturgeon and demonstrated the high sensitivity of ddPCR to detect and quantify the Chinese sturgeon eDNA concentration with the limit of detection 0.17 copies/μl, with Chinese sturgeon eDNA been intermittently detected at all sampling sites. There was a consistent temporal pattern among four of the sampling sites that could reflect the movement characteristics of the Chinese sturgeon in the spawning ground, but without a spatial pattern. The eDNA concentration declined by approximately 2–3 × between December 2018 and December 2019. Conclusions The results prove the efficacy of eDNA for monitoring reproductive stock of the Chinese sturgeon and the e decreased eDNA concentration reflect that Chinese sturgeon may survive with an extremely small number of reproductive stock in the Yangtze River. Accordingly, we suggest future conservation measures should focus on both habitat restoration and matured fish restocking to ensure successful spawning. Overall, this study provides encouraging support for the application of eDNA methods to monitor endangered aquatic species.Dan YuZhongyuan ShenTao ChangSha LiHuanzhang LiuBMCarticleEnvironmental DNASturgeonReproductive stockDroplet digital PCREcologyQH540-549.5EvolutionQH359-425ENBMC Ecology and Evolution, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Environmental DNA Sturgeon Reproductive stock Droplet digital PCR Ecology QH540-549.5 Evolution QH359-425
spellingShingle	Environmental DNA Sturgeon Reproductive stock Droplet digital PCR Ecology QH540-549.5 Evolution QH359-425 Dan Yu Zhongyuan Shen Tao Chang Sha Li Huanzhang Liu Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
description	Abstract Background To determine the presence and abundance of an aquatic species in large waterbodies, especially when populations are at low densities, is highly challenging for conservation biologists. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to offer a noninvasive and cost-effective method to complement traditional population monitoring, however, eDNA has not been extensively applied to study large migratory species. Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis), is the largest anadromous migratory fish in the Yangtze River, China, and in recent years its population has dramatically declined and spawning has failed, bringing this species to the brink of extinction. In this study, we aim to test the detectability of eDNA methods to determine the presence and relative abundance of reproductive stock of the species and whether eDNA can be used as a tool to reflect behavioral patterns. Chinese sturgeon eDNA was collected from four sites along the spawning ground across an eight month period, to investigate the temporal and spatial distribution using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Results We designed a pair of specific primers for Chinese sturgeon and demonstrated the high sensitivity of ddPCR to detect and quantify the Chinese sturgeon eDNA concentration with the limit of detection 0.17 copies/μl, with Chinese sturgeon eDNA been intermittently detected at all sampling sites. There was a consistent temporal pattern among four of the sampling sites that could reflect the movement characteristics of the Chinese sturgeon in the spawning ground, but without a spatial pattern. The eDNA concentration declined by approximately 2–3 × between December 2018 and December 2019. Conclusions The results prove the efficacy of eDNA for monitoring reproductive stock of the Chinese sturgeon and the e decreased eDNA concentration reflect that Chinese sturgeon may survive with an extremely small number of reproductive stock in the Yangtze River. Accordingly, we suggest future conservation measures should focus on both habitat restoration and matured fish restocking to ensure successful spawning. Overall, this study provides encouraging support for the application of eDNA methods to monitor endangered aquatic species.
format	article
author	Dan Yu Zhongyuan Shen Tao Chang Sha Li Huanzhang Liu
author_facet	Dan Yu Zhongyuan Shen Tao Chang Sha Li Huanzhang Liu
author_sort	Dan Yu
title	Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
title_short	Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
title_full	Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
title_fullStr	Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
title_full_unstemmed	Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
title_sort	using environmental dna methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (acipenser sinensis) monitoring program
publisher	BMC
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/01d5507fb6d14701af94f2a3e5dee5ea
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Using environmental DNA methods to improve detectability in an endangered sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) monitoring program

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