Environmental DNA: Study Design, Implementation, and Application

Target Audience:

Resource professionals who work directly with eDNA in the field or lab or those who apply eDNA data for the management of plant or animal populations, especially those in aquatic habitats.

Summary and Objectives:

This course provides resource professionals at both the staff and management levels with the most up-to-date information on eDNA best practices and applications. This includes the tools needed to evaluate conservation issues where eDNA studies inform management of plants and animals including T&E and invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species . Instruction on state-of-the-art eDNA Best Management Practices, terminology, concepts, and case histories will be provided throughout the course.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe best management practices for eDNA field studies including study design, field collection, sample processing, and data analysis.
• Evaluate eDNA information in the scientific literature and explain how it relates to management decisions.
• Evaluate project proposals and reports and identify the appropriate eDNA methods needed to answer management questions.
• Describe the benefits and limitations of applying eDNA methods to management decisions.
• Develop and review appropriate study designs using the Best Management Practices and principles of eDNA.

Competency Addressed:

Conservation Biology - Intermediate, Wildlife Biology - Basic, Field Data Collection - Intermediate, Data Interpretation - Intermediate, Research and Statistics - Basic, Fishery Biology - Basic, Zoology - Basic