@inproceedings{01GW1GZTKGQTV5T1V1Q4Q6DDP6,
  abstract     = {{Lotic biomonitoring of fish fauna using environmental DNA methods could serve as a complementary technique to conventional, invasive, costly and time-consuming methods. Integration of eDNA-based detection methods into existing regulatory monitoring frameworks, however, requires further insights and the development of practical guidelines. One of the main challenges encompasses uncertain fate determination of an eDNA molecule after its release from the source, i.e. the fish. With a longitudinal cage study in a small Flemish river (Belgium), incorporating both species-specific droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) analyses as well as community-wide screening via metabarcoding, we reveal the impact of both source biomass as well as system-specific river discharge rate on the spatial reach of these eDNA molecules. A plume-shaped downstream transport of the eDNA molecules is confirmed in both methods, with a strongly decreased detection rate beyond the 2 km sampling point downstream from the source population. This is due to an effect of homogenisation and dilution strengthened with increased river discharge rate. In addition, interspecific variation in eDNA persistence causes an increase in stochasticity within the community-wide screening of this river with increasing distance from the source. Besides concrete application of species-specific methods for presence-absence investigation of both native and invasive species in contrasting occurrences, we found positive linkage between relative biomass of the eDNA source and its representation within the metabarcoding data. We strive for a continued development towards implementation of this eDNA-based biomonitoring in lotic environments and work on critical aspects of sampling and quantification of eDNA, allowing the use of these methods as a tool to assess ecosystem health.}},
  author       = {{Van Driessche, Charlotte and Everts, Teun and Neyrinck, Sabrina and Bonte, Dries and Brys, Rein}},
  booktitle    = {{International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conference, Abstracts}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Hobart, Tasmania, Australia}},
  pages        = {{1}},
  title        = {{How far are we from eDNA-based biomonitoring of fish? A look at the spatial reach of eDNA in lotic waters}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12688.48649}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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