SFS Annual Meeting

6/06/2024  |   10:30 - 10:45   |  Salon 5/6

Beyond the Dam: Unraveling River Secrets through eDNA In 2021 the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) explored the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis amid Covid-related challenges to traditional fieldwork, specifically fish assessment methods. Transitioning from electroshocking to eDNA sampling, the MWA sought to understand American shad migration patterns post-removal of the Hughesville dam. While expected data aligned with observations, the unexpected presence of European and Japanese eel DNA prompted investigation. Consultation with fisheries biologists at Montclair State University revealed the presence of Japanese eel DNA in water samples, likely originating from sushi restaurants in the watershed. Additionally, European eel DNA suggests potential hybridization or transoceanic migration, posing questions about eel population dynamics and responses to ecological shifts. The study highlights the need for closer scrutiny of eel populations and the potential implications of hybridization, particularly in the context of changing environmental conditions such as warming waters and shifts in oceanic circulation patterns like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Christa Reeves (Primary Presenter/Author), Musconetcong Watershed Association, christa@musconetcong.org;

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6/06/2024  |   10:45 - 11:00   |  Salon 5/6

Using eDNA to Track Migrating Fish Species Post Dam Removal The Columbia Dam, built in 1909, has been a fish passage barrier for resident and migratory fish species for over a hundred years. The removal of the dam in 2019 has once again opened 10 miles of the Paulins Kill to several migratory species including American shad (Alosa sapidissima). The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring has conducted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys at 4 sites on the mainstem Paulins Kill since 2022 to assess American shad migration and spawning in this restored section of river. Results from 2022 indicate American Shad are once again utilizing the mainstem Paulins Kill for the first time in a century. While American shad were not encountered during electrofishing surveys, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results from eDNA sampling positively detected American shad DNA from mid-April through late July 2022. Peak DNA concentrations were detected during the May 23, 2022 sampling event which also represented the optimal water temperatures for American shad spawning. Environmental DNA monitoring was continued on the mainstem Paulins Kill in 2023 along with deploying drift nets during summer months in an attempt to collect larval American shad to further document successful spawning.

Grace Noll (Primary Presenter/Author), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, grace.noll@dep.nj.gov;

John Vile (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring, John.Vile@dep.nj.gov;

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6/06/2024  |   11:00 - 11:15   |  Salon 5/6

An Evaluation of Environmental DNA (eDNA) at New Jersey Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Stations Environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a valuable new tool enabling biologists to monitor many aquatic species, some which have no other means of sampling. Although eDNA has been proven to be effective in monitoring individual species for conservation and management purposes, its use in assessing aquatic communities is less proven. In 2022, biologists from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring initiated eDNA monitoring at Northern Fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) stations prior to routine electrofishing. This side-by-side collection enabled a direct comparison between metabarcoding and electrofishing results. Multiple samples and a field blank were collected from a variety of habitat types at each site using self-desiccating DNA filters which were then submitted to Rutgers University for metabarcoding analysis. Overall species richness results were comparable between DNA and electrofishing results, despite the failure of DNA to detect lamprey ammocoetes. Linear regression analysis between electrofishing and eDNA data indicates a good relationship for species richness (r2=0.81) and electrofishing abundance versus metabarcoding reads (r2=0.75). Environmental DNA monitoring was expanded in 2023 and is planned to continue in different regions of Northern NJ in 2024 and 2025 with the overall goal to develop IBI metrics based on eDNA results.

John Vile (Primary Presenter/Author), NJ Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring, John.Vile@dep.nj.gov;

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6/06/2024  |   11:15 - 11:30   |  Salon 5/6

Developing eDNA metabarcoding applications for rapid detection of endangered fish assemblages in the upper Brazos River, Texas Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a new and under-explored technology for rapid, consistent bioassessment. Despite its promise, application of DNA metabarcoding for resource management is limited by information gaps related to amplicon reference databases and the effectiveness of primers. We are addressing those limitations in the upper Brazos River, Texas, home to the endemic and federally endangered Sharpnose (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and Smalleye (Notropis buccula) shiners. Of 29 fish species present in the upper Brazos River, 20 did not have sequenced genomes in GenBank. We extracted DNA from 87 vouchered specimens provided by the Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collection at Texas A&M University. Next, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of the two target species and used in silico analysis to assess the efficacy of 22 metabarcoding primer sets (12S, 16S, CytB, and COI regions) for distinguishing these endangered shiners at the species level. Five of those primers were then tested in vitro to validate that each of the 29 fish species could be amplified and sequenced. Finally, we validated the most promising of these primers on environmental samples where species occurrences were documented using traditional sampling methods (i.e., seining). DNA sequences were uploaded to GenBank, enabling future eDNA work for the entire fish assemblage of the upper Brazos River and beyond. Findings from our work enhance the utility of eDNA metabarcoding as a non-invasive method for rapid detection and biomonitoring of endangered species.

Kaley Cave (Primary Presenter/Author), University of North Texas, kaleycave724@gmail.com;

Tobin Davidosn (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Mississippi State University , tjd291@msstate.edu ;

Lindsey Davis (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, lindseydavis3@my.unt.edu;

Michael Curtis (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, michaelcurtis3@my.unt.edu;

Chase Nimee (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Stephen F. Austin State University , nimeecr@jacks.sfasu.edu;

Michael Sandel (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Mississippi State University, mws297@msstate.edu;

Kayla Fast (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Mississippi State University, kmf160@msstate.edu;

Minh Vu (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, minh.vu@unt.edu;

Carmen Montaña (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Stephen F. Austin University, montanascg@sfasu.edu;

David Hoeinghaus (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, david.hoeinghaus@unt.edu;

Zacchaeus Compson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of North Texas, zacchaeus.compson@unt.edu;

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6/06/2024  |   11:30 - 11:45   |  Salon 5/6

STUDYING TRANSPORT OF FRESHWATER MUSSEL EDNA IN FLOWING SYSTEMS Freshwater mussels of the Unionida order are of conservation concern due to their high level of endemism in North America, the number of federally listed species (88 of 298 species), their importance in freshwater ecosystems and utility as water quality indicators, and their unique natural history. Improving our ability to detect and monitor these species is crucial to their continued conservation. Here we developed environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect two federally endangered freshwater mussel species: the spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta) and the oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis). We also used mussels to better understand eDNA transport in flowing systems, by developing and testing eDNA transport models incorporating lab derived data on mussel-specific eDNA shedding and degradation rates in the Big Piney River (Missouri, USA) and Clinch River (Virginia/ Tennessee, USA). Our field sampling was able to detect our focal species, however, detection rates were low and concentrations were too low to adequately test the hydraulic model. In light of these results, we conducted an eDNA slurry release in the Big Piney River in the fall of 2023 to better understand eDNA transport. The slurry results provided improved resolution of eDNA movement and dynamics in the Big Piney. Our work demonstrates that rare mussels can be detected with eDNA, but low eDNA concentrations challenge the understanding of eDNA dynamics. Analytical approaches that use detection rates, such as occupancy modelling, may be better suited to monitoring rare species than approaches that depend on quantification of eDNA concentrations.

Katy Klymus (Primary Presenter/Author), U.S.Geological Survey, kklymus@usgs.gov;

Dannise Ruiz-Ramos (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), USGS, dannise.ruiz@gmail.com;

Nathan Thompson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), U.S. Geological Survey, nthompson@usgs.gov;

Brandon Sansom (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), USGS, bsansom@usgs.gov;

Catherine Richter (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Columbia Environmental Research Center, USGS, CRichter@usgs.gov;

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