Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Can eDNA be Used to Locate Shawnee Hills Cavefish?
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Biology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Timothy Spier, PhD; Gary ZeRuth, PhD; Michael Flinn, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Traditional stream fish sampling methods, such as seining and electrofishing, are time consuming, expensive, and limited to short stretches of stream. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting fish (Rees et al. 2014, Rourke et al. 2022). The streams of the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area (LBL) are unique, undisturbed streams which contain many interesting fish species for which little information exists. One such rare, and interesting species is the Shawnee Hills Cavefish (Forbesichthys papilliferus), which is known to exist in a few LBL streams. However, the complete distribution of the Shawnee Hills Cavefish in LBL is not known, and very little information is available to assist with the management and conservation of this rare species (Adams et al. 2001). Through backpack electrofishing, cavefish were located within various stream sites and tagged with visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags (Weston and Johnson 2008). A cavefish mark/recapture study was then undertaken through the combination of the eDNA sampling as well as the VIE tagging efforts. With the results of the mark/recapture population and site survey, the relative Shawnee Hills Cavefish population size within the various LBL streams will be determined and in turn benefit the rare Shawnee Hills Cavefish and provide valuable information for further studies and management actions.
Spring Scholars Week 2024 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Can eDNA be Used to Locate Shawnee Hills Cavefish?
Traditional stream fish sampling methods, such as seining and electrofishing, are time consuming, expensive, and limited to short stretches of stream. However, the analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples promises to be a quick, inexpensive method for detecting fish (Rees et al. 2014, Rourke et al. 2022). The streams of the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area (LBL) are unique, undisturbed streams which contain many interesting fish species for which little information exists. One such rare, and interesting species is the Shawnee Hills Cavefish (Forbesichthys papilliferus), which is known to exist in a few LBL streams. However, the complete distribution of the Shawnee Hills Cavefish in LBL is not known, and very little information is available to assist with the management and conservation of this rare species (Adams et al. 2001). Through backpack electrofishing, cavefish were located within various stream sites and tagged with visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags (Weston and Johnson 2008). A cavefish mark/recapture study was then undertaken through the combination of the eDNA sampling as well as the VIE tagging efforts. With the results of the mark/recapture population and site survey, the relative Shawnee Hills Cavefish population size within the various LBL streams will be determined and in turn benefit the rare Shawnee Hills Cavefish and provide valuable information for further studies and management actions.