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PreprintCited by 66Environmental DNA in Biodiversity StudiesFish Ecology and Management StudiesGenetic diversity and population structure

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Lateral and longitudinal fish eDNA distribution in dynamic riverine habitats

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Thalinger, Bettina, Kirschner, Dominik, Pütz, Yannick, Moritz, Christian, Schwarzenberger, Richard, Wanzenböck, Josef, Traugott, Michael·2020·Environmental DNA
DOI 10.1101/2020.05.28.120147

Preprint — published as 10.1002/edn3.171 · Paper page

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Abstract

Assessing the status and distribution of fish populations in rivers is essential for management and conservation efforts in these dynamic habitats. Currently, methods detecting environmental DNA (eDNA) are being established as an alternative and/or complementary approach to the traditional monitoring of fish species. In lotic systems, a sound understanding of hydrological conditions and their influence on the local target detection probability and DNA quantity is key for the interpretation of eDNA-based results. However, the effect of seasonal and diurnal changes in discharge and the comparability of semi-quantitative results between species remain hardly addressed. We conducted a cage experiment with four fish species (three salmonid and one cyprinid species) in a glacier-fed, fish-free river in Tyrol (Austria) during summer, fall, and winter discharge situations (i.e. 25-fold increase from winter to summer). Each season, water samples were obtained on three consecutive days at 13 locations downstream of the cages including lateral sampling every 1-2 m across the wetted width. Fish eDNA was quantified by species-specific endpoint PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis. Close to the cages, lateral eDNA distribution was heterogenous and mirrored cage placement within the stream. In addition to the diluting effect of increased discharge, longitudinal signal changes within the first 20 m were weakest at high discharge. For downstream locations with laterally homogenous eDNA distribution, the signals decreased significantly with increasing distance and discharge. Generally, the eDNA of the larger-bodied salmonid species was less frequently detected, and signal strengths were lower compared to the cyprinid species. This study exemplifies the importance of hydrological conditions for the interpretation of eDNA-based data across seasons. To control for heterogenous eDNA distribution and enable comparisons over time, sampling schemes in lotic habitats need to incorporate hydrological conditions and species traits.

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Metadata

Authors
Thalinger, B., Kirschner, D., Pütz, Y., Moritz, C., Schwarzenberger, R., Wanzenböck, J., & Traugott, M.
Affiliations
Universität Innsbruck (AT)
Corresponding author
Thalinger, Bettina
ORCID
Venue
Environmental DNA
Publisher
openRxiv
Published
2020-05-30
Volume
3
Issue
1
Pages
305-318
ISSN
2637-4943 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1101/2020.05.28.120147
OpenAlex
W3112053409
Cited by
66
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2
FWCI
3.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental DNA (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • DORA Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (853219)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Fish Ecology and Management Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
Keywords
river discharge, hydrological conditions, salmonids, Cyprinidae, seasonal variation, diurnal variation, sampling design, species-specific detection, glacial streams, fish monitoring

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Thalinger, B., Kirschner, D., Pütz, Y., Moritz, C., Schwarzenberger, R., Wanzenböck, J., & Traugott, M. (2020). Lateral and longitudinal fish eDNA distribution in dynamic riverine habitats. Environmental DNA. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.28.120147

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