Environmental DNA, often called eDNA for short, is a surveillance tool that can be used to monitor for the genetic presence of a species in the environment.
This emerging technology looks for the presence of DNA from either a specific species or a specific group of species that has been “shed” into the environment. There are many ways that a species can leave behind DNA in an environment. They can shed skin cells, scales, or fecal material directly from the organism into the water, or their genetic material can be indirectly transferred by boats, sediment, or even fecal matter of another organism. The use of eDNA to detect species of interest, whether native or invasive can help managers monitor species ranges, assess community composition, develop expectations related to density, and to target locations for further sampling using traditional gear to capture live individuals.
eDNA is often used to detect the presence of 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 in waterways where we are trying to prevent their spread, and we also use it to help look for native species that are rare.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used to monitor the distribution of invasive species such as bighead and silver carp, or round goby, or for native species such as brook trout, American eel, and various freshwater mussels. Our genetics Labs use eDNA to identify the presence of DNA from targeted species or can also evaluate species composition through the use of metabarcoding. For example, the Whitney Genetics Lab has been testing eDNA samples for early detection of invasive carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System, the Illinois, Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as well as tributaries of all five Great Lakes.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conservation Genetics Community of Practice
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conservation Genetics Community of Practice is spread across six regional genetics labs and the staff at the Service’s National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab. For over a decade these facilities have been pioneering genetics research to benefit the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants.
