Mr Josh Smith1
1Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand, 3Wilderlab NZ Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand, 4The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, 5Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Tauranga, New Zealand
National standardisation of sampling protocols between different agencies and organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand has traditionally been difficult to achieve. Historically organisational sampling methods and techniques, though often similar, have often morphed sufficiently in detail that data comparisons (at the national scale) are often inconsistent and difficult to achieve. eDNA monitoring is a new and exciting tool offering a unique opportunity to standardise aquatic sampling protocols better than ever before.
With the establishment of the first commercial eDNA lab (Wilderlab NZ Ltd) in Aotearoa, has come an exponential increase in eDNA interest and use. The opportunity was taken by Regional Councils together with the Department of Conservation to establish optimum eDNA replication for standardising the robust monitoring of freshwater fish and invertebrates in flowing waters. High replication (n=16) eDNA sampling involving two ‘syringe’ sampling methods (‘standard’ and ‘boosted’) was conducted at 54 riverine sites throughout the country. Analysis of this data as well as comparisons with electric fishing and MCI results from a selection of sites enabled collaborative organisational agreement for optimising replicate number and ultimately, a standardised monitoring method for freshwater fish and invertebrate eDNA sampling.
Biography:
Josh Smith is a freshwater senoir monitoring scientist with the Waikato Regional Council. His main interest and area of work is freshwater fish and is now encorporating eDNA sampling as part of his monitoring programe.