Villacorta Rath, Cecilia (2024) Development of two species-specific environmental DNA (eDNA) assays for electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) and tropical fire ant (Solenopsis germinata) detection: A report for the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

TropWATER developed and validated two environmental DNA (eDNA) assays, one targeting electric ants, Wasmannia aurpunctata, and another one targeting tropical fire ants, Solenopsis germinata. The SYBR-based assays were tested in-silico and in-vitro on the target and non-target species to ensure specificity. The selection of this type of assay (as opposed to a TaqMan probe assay) allows for potential population differentiation between different infestations of the target species that were not accounted here during assay development. This was considered necessary given that new incursions of these invasive species into Australia could be originated from different geographic locations and can have specific genetic make-up. Field validation of the W. auropunctata eDNA assay was carried out using soil samples collected at a location with current known infestations in the Cairns region.

Item ID:	83019
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Related URLs:	Publisher
Copyright Information:	© James Cook University, 2024.
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2024 00:59
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