United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Molecular Ecology Research Branch, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
Environ Res. 2011 Oct;111(7):978-88. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.02.001. Epub 2011 Feb 25.
Recent technological advances have driven rapid development of DNA-based methods designed to facilitate detection and monitoring of invasive species in aquatic environments. These tools promise to improve on traditional monitoring approaches by enhancing detection sensitivity, reducing analytical turnaround times and monitoring costs, and increasing specificity of target identifications. However, despite the promise of DNA-based monitoring methods, the adoption of these tools in decision-making frameworks remains challenging. Here, rather than explore technical aspects of method development, we examine impediments to effective translation of those methods into management contexts. In addition to surveying current use of DNA-based tools for aquatic invasive species monitoring, we explore potential sources of uncertainty associated with molecular technologies and possibilities for limiting that uncertainty and effectively communicating its implications for decision-making. We pay particular attention to the recent adoption of DNA-based methods for detection of invasive Asian carp species in the United States Great Lakes region, as this example illustrates many of the challenges associated with applying molecular tools to achieve desired management outcomes. Our goal is to provide a useful assessment of the obstacles associated with integrating DNA-based methods into aquatic invasive species management, and to offer recommendations for future efforts aimed at overcoming those obstacles.
最近的技术进步推动了基于 DNA 的方法的快速发展，这些方法旨在促进水生环境中入侵物种的检测和监测。这些工具有望通过提高检测灵敏度、缩短分析周转时间和监测成本以及提高目标识别的特异性来改进传统的监测方法。然而，尽管基于 DNA 的监测方法具有很大的应用前景，但在决策框架中采用这些工具仍然具有挑战性。在这里，我们不探讨方法开发的技术方面，而是研究将这些方法有效地转化为管理背景的障碍。除了调查当前用于水生入侵物种监测的 DNA 工具的使用情况外，我们还探讨了与分子技术相关的不确定性的潜在来源，以及限制这种不确定性和有效地传达其对决策的影响的可能性。我们特别关注最近在美国大湖区采用基于 DNA 的方法来检测入侵的亚洲鲤鱼物种的情况，因为这个例子说明了将分子工具应用于实现预期管理结果所面临的许多挑战。我们的目标是对将基于 DNA 的方法整合到水生入侵物种管理中所涉及的障碍进行有益的评估，并为未来克服这些障碍的努力提供建议。
