Akamatsu Yoshihisa, Kume Gen, Gotou Masuji, Kono Takanori, Fujii Takuma, Inui Ryutei, Kurita Yoshihisa
Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan Yamaguchi University Ube Japan.
Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan Kagoshima University Kagoshima Japan.
Biodivers Data J. 2020 Jan 14;8:e39679. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.8.e39679. eCollection 2020.
The Ryukyu ayu is an endangered amphidromous fish that inhabits rivers in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Japan). Populations of the species have declined dramatically. Consequently, the Ryukyu ayu has been registered as a natural monument in Japan and monitoring surveys with direct catching are restricted legally. This restriction, unfortunately, makes monitoring of population abundances difficult and creates a barrier to both advancing understanding of the species' status and the development of appropriate conservation plans. We developed a non-invasive monitoring methodology using eDNA analyses. We designed a specific quantitative PCR assay for the Ryukyu ayu using the mitochondrial ND4 region. Using this primer/probe set, we conducted eDNA analyses in three rivers on Amami-Ohshima Island. The DNA fragments were amplified from the eDNA extracted from natural water in each river. The numbers of DNA fragments detected were positively correlated with individual counts of fish obtained by visual snorkelling surveys. Our method does not contravene restrictions and facilitates abundance monitoring of this endangered fish species.
琉球香鱼是一种濒危的溯河洄游鱼类，栖息于琉球群岛（日本）的河流中。该物种的种群数量已急剧下降。因此，琉球香鱼已被登记为日本的自然纪念物，并且法律限制了直接捕捞的监测调查。不幸的是，这种限制使得监测种群数量变得困难，并对推进对该物种状况的了解以及制定适当的保护计划造成了障碍。我们开发了一种使用环境DNA（eDNA）分析的非侵入性监测方法。我们利用线粒体ND4区域为琉球香鱼设计了一种特定的定量PCR检测方法。使用该引物/探针组，我们在奄美大岛的三条河流中进行了eDNA分析。从每条河流的天然水中提取的eDNA中扩增出了DNA片段。检测到的DNA片段数量与通过视觉浮潜调查获得的鱼类个体数量呈正相关。我们的方法不违反相关限制，并有助于对这种濒危鱼类进行数量监测。
