Dr Alison Watts1, Dr Fouad El Baidouri1, Dr Jeffery Miller1
1University Of New Hampshire, Durham, US
Biography:
Dr. Alison Watts is a Research Faculty at the University of New Hampshire, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Watts’s main research interest includes working with regulatory agencies and resource managers to assess and remediate water resource impacts. Her current work is focused on the use of molecular methods, primarily eDNA, and includes early detection of invasive species, water quality indicators, impacts of aquaculture, and baseline assessments in coastal systems.
Abstract:
Incorporating eDNA into coastal monitoring will support management of key species, and identify the arrival of new and expanding species, as well as a variety of biodiversity metrics. However, eDNA analyses and interpretation can be challenging in some estuaries where high turbidity, organic material, and DNA transport may inhibit or confound results. Resource managers who are unfamiliar with eDNA may find results difficult to interpret and may be reluctant to use data generated by an unfamiliar, non-standardized method. We present findings and recommendations from a two-year pilot project that involved collecting quarterly eDNA samples at 10 National Estuarine Research Reserves in the USA. Samples were collected quarterly in each estuary, then analyzed for fish and other organisms. Fish species lists were compared to expected species identified through other methods. General eukaryotes species data were used to identify differences between sites and estuaries, seasonal trends, and develop biodiversity metrics. Results were presented to local managers to provide information on fish assemblage and biodiversity at each location. Managers were encouraged to offer feedback on usability, accessibility and barriers to use of eDNA at each site. We found that eDNA monitoring can substantially benefit resource managers, particularly in locations with limited conventional biological monitoring, but that support for interpretation and post-analysis processing is very important for many users. We will present an overview of findings, and communications materials we have found beneficial to managers.