Woodell James D, Neiman Maurine, Levri Edward P
Department of Biology & Department of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies, University of Iowa, 129 E Jefferson Street, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.
Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Penn State - Altoona, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601 USA.
Biol Invasions. 2021;23(10):3263-3274. doi: 10.1007/s10530-021-02576-7. Epub 2021 Jun 1.
Early detection of invasive species allows for a more rapid and effective response. Restoration of the native ecosystem after an invasive population has established is expensive and difficult but more likely to succeed when invasions are detected early in the invasion process. Containment efforts to prevent the spread of known invasions also benefit from earlier knowledge of invaded sites. Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have emerged as a tool that can identify invasive species at a distinctly earlier time point than traditional methods of detection. Here, we focus on whether eDNA techniques can be successfully applied to detect new invasions by the destructive New Zealand Mud Snail (NZMS). It is an opportune time to apply eDNA-based detection in , which is currently expanding its invasive range across eastern North America. We collected water samples from eight sites in central Pennsylvania that prior evidence indicated were not yet invaded by the NZMS but were part of the same watershed as other previously documented invaded sites. We found evidence for NZMS invasion at five of the eight sites, with subsequent physical confirmation of mud snails at one of these sites. This study is the first example of successful application of eDNA to detect a previously unidentified invasive population of NZMS, setting the stage for further monitoring of at-risk sites to detect and control new invasions of this destructive snail. This study also shows potential opportunities for invasion monitoring offered by using low-cost efforts and methods that are adaptable for citizen science.
早期发现入侵物种能实现更迅速有效的应对。在入侵种群建立之后恢复原生生态系统成本高昂且困难重重，但如果在入侵过程的早期就发现入侵情况，则更有可能成功。防止已知入侵物种扩散的遏制措施也得益于对入侵地点的更早了解。环境DNA（eDNA）技术已成为一种工具，它能比传统检测方法在明显更早的时间点识别出入侵物种。在此，我们聚焦于eDNA技术能否成功应用于检测具有破坏性的新西兰泥蜗（NZMS）的新入侵情况。现在是在[具体地区]应用基于eDNA的检测方法的时机，因为该物种目前正在北美东部扩大其入侵范围。我们从宾夕法尼亚州中部的八个地点采集了水样，先前证据表明这些地点尚未被新西兰泥蜗入侵，但它们与其他先前记录的入侵地点属于同一流域。我们在八个地点中的五个发现了新西兰泥蜗入侵的证据，随后在其中一个地点通过实地确认发现了泥蜗。这项研究是成功应用eDNA检测先前未识别的新西兰泥蜗入侵种群的首个实例，为进一步监测高危地点以检测和控制这种具有破坏性的蜗牛的新入侵奠定了基础。这项研究还展示了利用低成本且适用于公民科学的方法进行入侵监测的潜在机会。
