This talk will explore the use of environmental DNA to detect invasive fish species in water bodies with the goal of developing the best approach to eDNA metabarcoding fish detection in BC lakes.

Date: Wednesday Mar 29, 2017

Time: 12 pm – 1 pm PST

Host: Dr. Davon Callander, Postdoctoral Fellow at Fisheries & Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo BC

Description: Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a major threat to freshwater aquatic ecosystems and fisheries in BC. Invasive fish may out-compete native species for food or prey upon native juvenile fish. Early detection of invaders maximizes the chance for effective management intervention towards preventing or mitigating their potentially harmful impacts. Environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to detect species in a water body and is ideally suited for rare, endangered, or invasive species. eDNA metabarcoding can also provide biodiversity information about the entire fish community. Genomic-based survey methods are more sensitive, cost-effective, and are non-invasive compared to traditional survey methods. An eDNA metabarcoding tool for detection of invasive fish and biodiversity monitoring in BC lakes is being developed and field-based testing is ongoing in BC lakes with known fish assemblages. We are testing several factors associated with sample collection (water volume, filtration method, spatial location, intensity of sampling, collection depth, seasonal detection probability) to develop the best approach to eDNA metabarcoding fish detection in BC lakes. This tool will enable more effective monitoring and management of high risk invasive fish species in BC.