@article{01GXZF78M8GJJSEHYJJHQCTV38,
  abstract     = {{Monitoring fish communities is central to the evaluation of ecological health of rivers. Both presence/absence of fish species and their relative quantity in local fish assemblages are crucial parameters to measure. Fish com-munities in lotic systems are traditionally monitored via electrofishing, characterized by a known limited effi-ciency and high survey costs. Analysis of environmental DNA could serve as a non-destructive alternative for detection and quantification of lotic fish communities, but this approach still requires further insights in practical sampling schemes incorporating transport and dilution of the eDNA particles; optimization of predictive power and quality assurance of the molecular detection method. Via a controlled cage experiment, we aim to extend the knowledge on streamreach of eDNA in small rivers and large brooks, as laid out in the European Water Framework Directive's water typology. Using a high and low source biomass in two river transects of a species -poor river characterized by contrasting river discharge rates, we found strong and significant correlations be-tween the eDNA relative species abundances and the relative biomass per species in the cage community. Despite a decreasing correlation over distance, the underlying community composition remained stable from 25 to 300 m, or up to 1 km downstream of the eDNA source, depending on the river discharge rate. Such decrease in similarity between relative source biomass and the corresponding eDNA-based community profile with increasing distance downstream from the source, might be attributed to variation in species-specific eDNA persistence. Our findings offer crucial insights on eDNA behaviour and characterization of riverine fish com-munities. We conclude that water sampled from a relatively small river offers an adequate eDNA snapshot of the total fish community in the 300-1000 m upstream transect. The potential application for other river systems is further discussed.}},
  articleno    = {{115857}},
  author       = {{Van Driessche, Charlotte and Everts, Teun and Neyrinck, Sabrina and Halfmaerten, David and Haegeman, Annelies and Ruttink, Tom and Bonte, Dries and Brys, Rein}},
  issn         = {{0013-9351}},
  journal      = {{ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH}},
  keywords     = {{General Environmental Science,Biochemistry,Environmental DNA,Lotic ecosystems,Metabarcoding,Monitoring strategy,Biodiversity assessment,European water framework directive,ABUNDANCE,CAPTURE,BIOMASS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{15}},
  title        = {{Using environmental DNA metabarcoding to monitor fish communities in small rivers and large brooks : Insights on the spatial scale of information}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115857}},
  volume       = {{228}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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