Environmental DNA最新文献

{"title":"Seasonal Changes in Fish eDNA Signal Vary Between Contrasting River Types","authors":"Nathan P. Griffiths,&nbsp;Jonathan D. Bolland,&nbsp;Rosalind M. Wright,&nbsp;Petr Blabolil,&nbsp;James A. Macarthur,&nbsp;Graham S. Sellers,&nbsp;Bernd Hänfling","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Due to the societal reliance on goods and services provided by river systems and their close proximity to settlements, few modern-day rivers are without significant anthropogenic modifications. The natural river hydrology is often altered as a consequence of pumping water for flood alleviation, retaining water for irrigation, and modifying channels for navigation. In recent years, water pumping stations have been found to have several adverse impacts, including fish mortality (direct and indirect) and habitat fragmentation. More broadly, modern-day river systems face a myriad of anthropogenic flow and channel modifications, with varying impacts on different fish life stages. To manage such risks in line with policy, knowledge of the overall fish community and priority species present is required. It is therefore important to understand the robustness of developing survey strategies across differently managed river systems. This study investigates the seasonal patterns of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding fish detections from water samples taken across three differently managed river types over a one-year period. We observed some significant seasonal variation in detection rates and fish communities; however, this variation was not consistent among river types. Despite this, we found comparatively poor fish communities upstream of pumping stations all year round, with pumped catchments containing significantly fewer species than the adjacent main river channel and our regional control site. Finally, we highlight that seasonal variation in detectability for the overall fish community may not always reflect that of priority species. In our case, we found favorable European eel (<i>Anguilla anguilla</i>) detection in the summer months across all river types. It is therefore recommended that rather than focusing on overall detectability, policy-driven targeted surveys should be designed with priority species ecology in mind.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70060","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144219910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Metadata Checklist and Data Formatting Guidelines to Make eDNA FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable)","authors":"Miwa Takahashi,&nbsp;Tobias Guldberg Frøslev,&nbsp;Joana Paupério,&nbsp;Bettina Thalinger,&nbsp;Katy Klymus,&nbsp;Caren C. Helbing,&nbsp;Cecilia Villacorta-Rath,&nbsp;Katherine Silliman,&nbsp;Luke R. Thompson,&nbsp;Sean P. Jungbluth,&nbsp;Suk Yee Yong,&nbsp;Stephen Formel,&nbsp;Gareth Jenkins,&nbsp;Martin Laporte,&nbsp;Bruce Deagle,&nbsp;Sachit Rajbhandari,&nbsp;Thomas Stjernegaard Jeppesen,&nbsp;Andrew Bissett,&nbsp;Christopher Jerde,&nbsp;Erin E. Hahn,&nbsp;Lynn M. Schriml,&nbsp;Christopher Hunter,&nbsp;Peggy Newman,&nbsp;Peter Woollard,&nbsp;Lynsey R. Harper,&nbsp;Nicholas Dunn,&nbsp;Katrina West,&nbsp;Rachel Haderlé,&nbsp;Shaun Wilkinson,&nbsp;Neha Acharya-Patel,&nbsp;Mark Louie D. Lopez,&nbsp;Guy Cochrane,&nbsp;Oliver Berry","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70100","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The success of environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches for species detection has revolutionized biodiversity monitoring and distribution mapping. Targeted eDNA amplification approaches, such as quantitative PCR, have improved our understanding of species distribution, and metabarcoding-based approaches have enabled biodiversity assessment at unprecedented scales and taxonomic resolution. eDNA datasets, however, are often scattered across repositories with inconsistent formats, varying access restrictions, and inadequate metadata; this limits their interoperation, reuse, and overall impact. Adopting FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data practices with eDNA data can transform the monitoring of biodiversity and individual species and support data-driven biodiversity management across broad scales. FAIR practices remain underdeveloped in the eDNA community, partly due to gaps in adapting existing vocabularies, such as Darwin Core (DwC) and Minimum Information about any (x) Sequence (MIxS), to eDNA-specific needs and workflows. To address these challenges, we propose a comprehensive FAIR eDNA (FAIRe) Metadata Checklist, which integrates existing data standards and introduces new terms tailored to eDNA workflows. Metadata are systematically linked to both raw data (e.g., metabarcoding sequences, Ct/Cq values of targeted qPCR assays) and derived biological observations (e.g., Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV)/Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) tables, species presence/absence). Along with formatting guidelines, tools, templates, and example datasets, we introduce a standardized, ready-to-use approach for FAIR eDNA practices. Through broad collaboration, we seek to integrate these guidelines into established biodiversity and molecular data standards, promote journal data policies, and foster user-driven improvements and uptake of FAIR practices among eDNA data producers. In proposing this standardized approach and developing a long-term plan with key databases and data standard organizations, the goal is to enhance accessibility, maximize reuse, and elevate the scientific impact of these valuable biodiversity data resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70100","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144219911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Warming Increases Environmental DNA (eDNA) Removal Rates in Flowing Waters","authors":"Elise D. Snyder,&nbsp;Jennifer L. Tank,&nbsp;Abagael N. Pruitt,&nbsp;Brett Peters,&nbsp;Pedro F. P. Brandão-Dias,&nbsp;E. M. Curtis,&nbsp;Kyle Bibby,&nbsp;Arial J. Shogren,&nbsp;Diogo Bolster,&nbsp;Scott P. Egan,&nbsp;Gary A. Lamberti","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for aquatic conservation is emerging, but its value is limited by our understanding of how environmental factors like temperature impact eDNA persistence. Although elevated temperatures are known to increase eDNA decay in lakes and ponds, no studies have experimentally explored the effect of temperature on eDNA fate in flowing waters where physical removal could obscure the effect of temperature on decay rates. We compared eDNA removal rates in <i>n</i> = 12 indoor, recirculating mesocosms under varying water temperatures (20°C, 23°C, 26°C) and found that, for small eDNA particles (0.2–1.0 μm), removal rates were higher at the warmest temperature (Tukey's post hoc, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.03) while removal rates were consistent across temperatures for larger eDNA particles (&gt; 1.0 μm, Tukey's, <i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Consequently, smaller eDNA particles were removed faster than larger particles at 26°C and 23°C (Tukey's, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) compared to 20°C (Tukey's, <i>p</i> = 0.01), resulting in an increase in the proportion of the eDNA sample made up of small particles with downstream transport for the two warmer temperatures (beta linear model, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). This suggests eDNA removal in streams reflects a complex interplay between physical trapping and microbial degradation influenced by temperature. Consequently, differences in temperature between geographic locations, seasons, and climates could impact the fate and interpretation of eDNA, even in flowing waters where physical removal contributes substantially to eDNA fate.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70094","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal Dynamics of a Fish Parasite (Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae) and Its Two Main Hosts in Pyrenean Streams: An Environmental DNA-Based Approach","authors":"Chiara Mercier,&nbsp;Eloïse Duval,&nbsp;Maxim Lefort,&nbsp;Simon Blanchet,&nbsp;Charlotte Veyssiere,&nbsp;Géraldine Loot","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The success of parasite life cycles hinges on multiple factors, among which the temporal synchrony between parasites and their hosts holds a crucial role. Studying host–parasite interactions therefore requires investigating this synchrony, which is challenging in natural environments. Here, we delve into the temporal dynamics of the interaction between the myxozoan parasite <i>Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae</i> and its two hosts—a bryozoan, <i>Fredericella sultana</i>, and a salmonid, <i>Salmo trutta</i>—employing an environmental DNA-based approach. We used digital PCR to quantify the molecular abundance of each species throughout an entire year and at eleven sites in the Pyrenees (France). We first characterized the seasonal dynamics of the parasite and its two hosts and their association with water temperature. Then, we assessed spatial synchrony between sites for each of the three species and temporal synchrony between the parasite and its two hosts. We revealed temporal fluctuations in the parasite and hosts DNA concentration, with peaks in abundance during the summer months. There were also significant associations between DNA concentrations and water temperature for the three species, but their form varied among species. We further found spatial synchrony for <i>T. bryosalmonae</i> and its hosts, with peaks of DNA of each organism occurring at the same time across sites. However, the strength of this synchrony varied across sites, a difference partially attributable to their geographical distance (the closer the sites the more synchronous the dynamics). We also showed a co-variation over time between the parasite and its two hosts. This co-variation was stronger in sites with fish showing high parasite infection prevalence, suggesting that synchrony facilitates the completion of the parasite's life cycle. These results open up new avenues for the examination of temporal synchrony between parasites and hosts and underscore the efficiency and usefulness of eDNA for further research into these mechanisms <i>in natura</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70127","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Dynamics of Environmental DNA: Effects of Early Developmental Stage and Physiological State in Chum Salmon","authors":"Masayuki K. Sakata,&nbsp;Takashi Kanbe,&nbsp;Shunpei Sato,&nbsp;Hitoshi Araki","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70126","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses provide valuable ecological data. Recent studies have explored eDNA dynamics related to reproductive behavior and developmental stages, revealing significant variations in eDNA concentrations across different life stages. However, there is a gap in understanding the association between eDNA concentrations and changes before and after developmental events, such as egg hatching. This study addresses this gap by monitoring eDNA signals in chum salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus keta</i>) during their early developmental stages and examining the effects of their physiological and behavioral changes. For this purpose, eDNA flux was monitored in rearing experiments with chum salmon during their developmental stages (egg, alevin, and fry). The eDNA flux varied significantly across different developmental stages: while no eDNA was detected during the egg stage, eDNA flux increased rapidly after hatching. After hatching, the eDNA flux became stable during the alevin stage but increased approximately 30-fold when they progressed into the fry stage (LMM and post hoc Tukey-HSD test: <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). These results suggest that eDNA signals vary across the developmental stages and can be utilized to estimate and monitor fish development even under natural conditions, such as those occurring under gravel for salmonid species.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70126","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144191164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gone in a Splash? Temporal Dynamics of Flukeprint Environmental DNA (eDNA) Detection for Common Coastal Northeast Pacific Cetacean Species","authors":"Chloe V. Robinson,&nbsp;Emma Laqua,&nbsp;Amy Migneault,&nbsp;Gary J. Sutton,&nbsp;Karina Dracott,&nbsp;Ashley Bachert","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Environmental DNA (eDNA) analytical techniques have been developed and applied to a small subset of cetacean species worldwide. Direct or “flukeprint” eDNA sampling has previously been proven as an effective approach for detecting DNA from target cetacean species including harbor porpoises (<i>Phocoena phocoena</i>), humpback whales (<i>Megaptera novaeangliae</i>), and killer whales (<i>Orcinus orca</i>). These common species are under increasing pressure from coastal anthropogenic activities throughout their respective Northeast Pacific ranges, and there is an increasing urgency to employ less invasive tools to address data gaps to inform conservation measures. However, it is unclear how long DNA shed in flukeprints persists for each of these species in the dynamic ocean environment. In this study, we opportunistically collected seawater (2–3 L) from flukeprints when individual harbor porpoise (<i>n</i> = 3), humpback whales (<i>n</i> = 3), and killer whales (<i>n</i> = 3) were observed diving. We collected samples across a series of five time points after each flukeprint was first observed: 30 s, 1 min 30 s, 2 min, 5 min 30 s, and 10 min 30 s. A total of 45 samples were collected across three species and analyzed with previously published species-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays to assess the persistence of eDNA over time. We found a variation in the detectability across the five time points between both target species and individuals sampled, with a general trend consisting of reduced eDNA detectability over time. These findings yield insights into the temporal dynamics of cetacean eDNA in marine environments, demonstrating the importance of species- and context-specific considerations when designing effective monitoring strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70132","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and Seasonal Biodiversity Variation in a Large Mediterranean Lagoon Using Environmental DNA Metabarcoding Through Sponge Tissue Collection","authors":"Andrea Corral-Lou,&nbsp;Ana Ramón-Laca,&nbsp;Lourdes Alcaraz,&nbsp;Robert Cassidy,&nbsp;Sergi Taboada,&nbsp;Stefano Mariani,&nbsp;Borja Mercado,&nbsp;Martin Vicente-Ríos,&nbsp;Ángel Pérez-Ruzafa,&nbsp;Ramón Gallego,&nbsp;Ana Riesgo","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70129","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ecosystem monitoring is a fundamental tool to avert biodiversity loss, gathering valuable information that can be used to develop conservation policies, evaluate management outcomes, and guide science-based decision-making. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon (South-East of Spain) has experienced episodes of eutrophication due to intensive agriculture and other human activities, causing mass mortalities of marine fauna. In this scenario, biodiversity monitoring is crucial to evaluate the status of fauna and flora and take appropriate measures. Here, our main objective was to assess faunal composition and its spatial and temporal structure associated with the pillars used to support the built recreational well-being facilities along the Mar Menor. We capitalized on the many sea sponges that settle on these structures by collecting tissue samples for subsequent extraction of filtered environmental DNA (i.e., ‘natural sampler DNA’, nsDNA) in northern and southern areas of the lagoon, both in spring and summer. We metabarcoded all samples at the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (<i>COI</i>), and reliably identified 76 taxa belonging to nine different phyla, with annelids, poriferans, mollusks and cnidarians being the richest groups. We detected emblematic species of threatened status, such as pipefishes (genus <i>Syngnathus</i>) and the piddock clam, <i>Pholas dactylus</i>, and others known to become invasive, such as the ascidians <i>Styela canopus</i> and <i>Botrylloides niger</i>, the barnacle <i>Amphibalanus amphitrite</i>, and the polychaetes <i>Branchiomma bairdi</i> and <i>Branchiomma boholense</i>. The use of common and widely distributed sponges as natural eDNA samplers allowed us to characterize both spatial and temporal diversity, further emphasizing the importance of this low-cost approach to monitoring biological communities in shallow coastal ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70129","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current Affairs: Examining the Use of Environmental DNA for Relative Abundance Monitoring in a Dynamic Tidal Habitat","authors":"Alice J. Clark,&nbsp;Valentina Scarponi,&nbsp;Tim Cane,&nbsp;Francesco S. Marzano,&nbsp;Nathan R. Geraldi,&nbsp;Reuben J. Shipway,&nbsp;Ian W. Hendy,&nbsp;Mika Peck","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Assessing the abundance and spatiotemporal distribution of fish species is crucial for informing sustainable fishing practices and developing effective conservation management plans. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a promising tool for estimating not only marine species richness but also species abundance, with several studies demonstrating a positive correlation between eDNA concentration and species abundance. Consequently, eDNA surveys not only enhance the monitoring of species requiring conservation attention but may also serve as a method to quantify relative abundance, a critical indicator of ecosystem health. This study investigates the feasibility of using eDNA metabarcoding to estimate relative abundance of marine species in a tidal environment, using Sussex Bay, UK, as a case study. We compared eDNA relative abundance indices, estimated by the metabarcoding method, using two different primer pairs and found strong positive correlations between the results from each primer. Additionally, we evaluated the relationship between relative abundance estimates derived from eDNA metabarcoding index and those obtained from Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) counts. Out of 14 species, only one significant positive correlation was found between eDNA index and BRUV counts. The BRUV surveys detected fewer species overall compared to eDNA, leading to a higher number of zero counts for several species, which may explain the lack of statistically significant relationships. This indicates that eDNA index and BRUV counts do not strongly correlate in dynamic marine environments, highlighting the differences between these survey methods. This study also estimated that eDNA can be detected at least 2–8 km from its assumed source in a marine tidal environment, with an average minimum travel speed of 1.8 km/h. Our findings illustrate the effectiveness of eDNA metabarcoding as a nondestructive biomonitoring method, while also highlighting its limitations as well as the challenges in comparing relative abundances of different methods in tidal environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70131","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144148462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"eDNA Sampling Detects Early Colonization of Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula Better Than In-Person Scouting in an Urban Landscape","authors":"Daiyanera Kelsey,&nbsp;Jonathan Lee-Rodriguez,&nbsp;Andy Michel,&nbsp;Christopher M. Ranger,&nbsp;Luis Canas,&nbsp;Ashley Leach","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70123","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Spotted lanternfly (SLF), <i>Lycorma delicatula</i>, is an invasive insect species rapidly colonizing the Northeast and Midwest USA. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can provide early detection and insight into the distribution of this new pest. SLF is often found in association with tree-of-heaven (<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>), near rail lines, and in disturbed areas; however, further data is needed to understand how these factors increase the risk of spotted lanternfly detection. Over 2 years, we sampled for spotted lanternfly using two methods: in-person scouting and eDNA sampling over 45 sites in Cleveland, OH during peak SLF activity (May–October). SLF detection at these sites was modeled against expected significant variables for SLF spread, including proximity to rail lines, tree of heaven density, and other landscape attributes. Our results showed eDNA outperformed visual detection by a magnitude of 2× (average of 20.4% scouting samples were positive compared to a mean of 46.3% eDNA samples). Of the factors analyzed, only tree of heaven presence at sites correlated with the likelihood of SLF eDNA detection. Sites with tree of heaven were 1.87 times more likely to test positive for SLF eDNA when compared to sites without tree-of-heaven. The results suggest the spread of SLF depends on host plant availability; however, further evaluation is needed to understand the movement of SLF into different urban ecosystems. The use of eDNA remains promising to pair with visual detection when there are low populations of SLF.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70123","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Release and Degradation of Environmental DNA and RNA From Eels in Aotearoa New Zealand","authors":"Alexandre Che-Pelicier,&nbsp;Hannah G. Hampton,&nbsp;Amandine J. M. Sabadel,&nbsp;Georgia Thomson Laing,&nbsp;Therese Miller,&nbsp;Xavier Pochon","doi":"10.1002/edn3.70128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70128","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a crucial tool for detecting rare species and monitoring biodiversity. However, the prolonged persistence of eDNA in water complicates the precise determination of an organism's location based on an eDNA signal alone. In contrast, environmental RNA (eRNA) degrades faster, potentially offering a more accurate detection proxy. To test this, we analyzed eDNA and eRNA release concentrations and decay rates from six longfin (<i>Anguilla dieffenbachii</i>) and six shortfin (<i>Anguilla australis</i>) eels under controlled conditions. Eels were placed in aquaria for 30 h and, after their removal, temporal water sampling was conducted over 7 days to assess the eels' eDNA and eRNA dynamics. Concentrations of eDNA and eRNA were estimated using validated droplet digital PCR assays for each species (<i>cytb</i> and 16S mitochondrial genes). Temporal eDNA and eRNA dynamics followed an exponential decay function over time, demonstrating a predictable decline in their concentrations. Moreover, higher decay rates of eRNA could represent a slightly more accurate proxy than eDNA for the location determination of rare species. Variability in the release and decay could be linked to the type of nucleic acid, marker genes, or eel species. Understanding these dynamics will help fine-tune detection models based on eDNA and eRNA.</p>","PeriodicalId":52828,"journal":{"name":"Environmental DNA","volume":"7 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/edn3.70128","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}