Sigma Xi Poster Competition
The Possibilities of eDNA as a Low Impact Monitoring Method for Wildlife Managers
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Biology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Andrea Darracq, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Monitoring is used to determine if management and conservation decisions resulted in the desired outcomes. Thus, monitoring is vital to determine what actions were successful and what management decisions should be implemented in the future. Traditional wildlife sampling and monitoring methods, such as tagging and trapping, are time consuming, stressful to the animals, and can be expensive. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from environmental samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting many species of animals. Samples associated with eDNA can be collected from nearly any environmental substance such as water, snow, air, and soil. Thus, acquiring these samples is relatively simple, fast, and has minimal effects on the target species and ecosystem. Recently, studies exploring the possible uses of eDNA in wildlife conservation and management indicate eDNA is useful in detecting the presence, absence, and relative number of invasive and threatened species within an area. Sampling for eDNA has been used to track communities, individuals, measure biodiversity, and to determine if pathogens or parasites are present in the system. All these factors make eDNA monitoring a versatile, efficient, and low disturbance way of acquiring vital information about numerous animal species. The use of eDNA can increase the number of sites able to be monitored by wildlife managers by decreasing the amount of time and labor needed to monitor each site.
Spring Scholars Week 2023 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
The Possibilities of eDNA as a Low Impact Monitoring Method for Wildlife Managers
Monitoring is used to determine if management and conservation decisions resulted in the desired outcomes. Thus, monitoring is vital to determine what actions were successful and what management decisions should be implemented in the future. Traditional wildlife sampling and monitoring methods, such as tagging and trapping, are time consuming, stressful to the animals, and can be expensive. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from environmental samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting many species of animals. Samples associated with eDNA can be collected from nearly any environmental substance such as water, snow, air, and soil. Thus, acquiring these samples is relatively simple, fast, and has minimal effects on the target species and ecosystem. Recently, studies exploring the possible uses of eDNA in wildlife conservation and management indicate eDNA is useful in detecting the presence, absence, and relative number of invasive and threatened species within an area. Sampling for eDNA has been used to track communities, individuals, measure biodiversity, and to determine if pathogens or parasites are present in the system. All these factors make eDNA monitoring a versatile, efficient, and low disturbance way of acquiring vital information about numerous animal species. The use of eDNA can increase the number of sites able to be monitored by wildlife managers by decreasing the amount of time and labor needed to monitor each site.