Fishing for mammals : landscape-level monitoring of terrestrial and semi-aquatic communities using eDNA from riverine systems

Sales, NG; McKenzie, M; Drake, J; Harper, L; Browett, S; Coscia, I; Wangensteen Fuentes, OS; Baillie, C; Bryce, E; Dawson, D; Ochu, EE; Hanfling, B; Handley, LL; Mariani, S; Lambin, X; Sutherland, C; McDevitt, A

Abstract

1. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has revolutionised biomonitoring in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, for semi-aquatic and terrestrial animals, the application of this technique remains relatively untested.

2. We first assess the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding in detecting semi-aquatic and terrestrial mammals in natural lotic ecosystems in the UK by comparing sequence data recovered from water and sediment samples to the mammalian communities expected from historical data. Secondly, using occupancy modelling we compared the detection efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding to multiple conventional non-invasive survey methods (latrine surveys and camera trapping).

3. eDNA metabarcoding detected a large proportion of the expected mammalian community within each area. Common species in the areas were detected at the majority of sites. Several key species of conservation concern in the UK were detected by eDNA sampling in areas where authenticated records do not currently exist, but potential false positives were also identified.

4. Water-based eDNA metabarcoding provided comparable results to conventional survey methods in per unit of survey effort for three species (water vole, field vole, and red deer) using occupancy models. The comparison between survey ‘effort’ to reach a detection probability of ≥0.95 revealed that 3-6 water replicates would be equivalent to 3-5 latrine surveys and 5-30 weeks of single camera deployment, depending on the species.

5. Synthesis and Applications. eDNA metabarcoding can be used to generate an initial ‘distribution map’ of mammalian diversity at the landscape level. If conducted during times of peak abundance, carefully chosen sampling points along multiple river courses provide a reliable snapshot of the species that are present in a catchment area. In order to fully capture solitary, rare and invasive species, we would currently recommend the use of eDNA metabarcoding alongside other non-invasive surveying methods (i.e. camera traps) to maximize monitoring efforts.

Citation

Sales, N., McKenzie, M., Drake, J., Harper, L., Browett, S., Coscia, I., …McDevitt, A. (2020). Fishing for mammals : landscape-level monitoring of terrestrial and semi-aquatic communities using eDNA from riverine systems. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57(4), 707-716. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13592

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Mar 10, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 6, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jan 22, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 10, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Applied Ecology
• Print ISSN: 0021-8901
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2664
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 707-716
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13592
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13592
• Related Public URLs: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652664
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Originally titled "Fishing for mammals : landscape-level monitoring of terrestrial and semi-aquatic communities using eDNA from lotic ecosystems"; Access Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Sales, NG, McKenzie, MB, Drake, J, et al. Fishing for mammals: Landscape‐level monitoring of terrestrial and semi‐aquatic communities using eDNA from riverine systems. J Appl Ecol. 2020; 57: 707– 716. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13592. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.; Funders : British Ecological Society;University of Salford;University of Massachusetts; Projects : The potential of environmental DNA for monitoring the distribution and abundance of elusive mammals in the UK; Grant Number: SR17/1214