Meeting Abstract

84-1  Saturday, Jan. 6 08:00 – 08:15  Estimating aquatic reptile density under field conditions using environmental DNA in Iowa, United States of America. ADAMS, CIM*; HOEKSTRA, LA; MUELL, MR; JANZEN, FJ; University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa turdlez@gmail.com

Density monitoring is imperative to understand population fluctuations. One emerging ecological tool for monitoring species is environmental DNA (eDNA), the technique of obtaining target DNA from environmental samples such as water, soil, or air. We evaluated if eDNA can be used for monitoring aquatic reptile density in a semi-natural lentic pond environment. Using four outdoor experimental ponds with varying Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) densities, we quantified both total eDNA and species-specific eDNA for comparison across ponds between 1 April and 30 June 2016. We found significant differences in total eDNA among ponds and a non-linear effect of time on total eDNA accumulation. We were largely unable to amplify turtle eDNA from the water samples despite developing a sensitive species-specific assay, highlighting the limitations of detecting this aquatic reptile under field conditions. Nonetheless, turtle eDNA increased in an expected rank-order pattern with increasing turtle density. Thus, eDNA retains potential to effectively measure density of aquatic reptiles in lentic systems.