Environmental DNA detects critically endangered largetooth sawfish in the wild

Simpfendorfer, Colin A., Kyne, Peter M., Noble, Tansyn H., Goldsbury, Julie, Basiita, Rose K., Lindsay, Rob, Shields, Amos, Perry, Camillus, and Jerry, Dean R. (2016) Environmental DNA detects critically endangered largetooth sawfish in the wild. Endangered Species Research, 30. pp. 109-116.

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Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a relatively new tool for the detection of rare, threatened and invasive species in water bodies. In this study we investigated the utility of an eDNA approach in detecting the Critically Endangered largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis in freshwater habitats in northern Australia. Water samples were collected from large aquaria mesocosms containing largetooth sawfish and other aquatic species, and floodplain waterholes and the main river channel of the Daly River, Northern Territory. Water samples were filtered using a 20 mu m nylon filter. DNA was extracted from filters and analysed with PCR using species-specific mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) primers designed to amplify only largetooth sawfish DNA. PCR products were cleaned and the COI gene sequenced to confirm the species identity. Using 3 aquaria, with one containing a largetooth sawfish, this method positively identified sawfish only in the correct aquarium. In the field water samples, 7 of 8 floodplain waterholes produced a sawfish eDNA PCR product, while eDNA was not detected in the main river channel. Based on gillnet sampling and traditional ecological knowledge, largetooth sawfish were known to occur at half of the waterhole and floodplain sites that tested positive for sawfish eDNA. These results demonstrated that an eDNA approach to detecting largetooth sawfish can produce reliable outcomes and can be used as a survey tool to help with conservation efforts for this and other threatened elasmobranchs.

Item ID: 45462
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1613-4796
Keywords: Pristis pristis, threatened species, Daly River, survey techniques
Additional Information:

© The authors 2016. Open Access under Creative Commons by Attribution Licence. Use, distribution and reproduction are unrestricted. Authors and original publication must be credited.

Funders: National Environmental Research Program (NERP), NERP Tropical Ecosystems Hub, NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub, NERP Northern Australia Hub
Date Deposited: 10 Aug 2016 07:30
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4105 Pollution and contamination > 410501 Environmental biogeochemistry @ 40%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310304 Freshwater ecology @ 20%
41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 40%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960506 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments @ 50%
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