Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon
Abstract The current knowledge about fish biodiversity and species distributions in Arctic freshwater systems is generally limited. This contrasts the clear urgency for more accurate biodiversity data to assess the effects of future ecosystem challenges such as climate change and other anthropogenic...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:4724a41cffd3432b97fca0847784bb86 2023-08-20T04:03:24+02:00 Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon Magnus W. Jacobsen Rasmus Nygaard Brian K. Hansen Mala Broberg Michael M. Hansen Rasmus Hedeholm Einar E. Nielsen 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/article/4724a41cffd3432b97fca0847784bb86 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/toc/2637-4943 2637-4943 doi:10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/article/4724a41cffd3432b97fca0847784bb86 Environmental DNA, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 782-795 (2023) Arctic monitoring electrofishing environmental DNA proportion analysis quantification Salmo salar Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbial ecology QR100-130 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 2023-07-30T00:36:44Z Abstract The current knowledge about fish biodiversity and species distributions in Arctic freshwater systems is generally limited. This contrasts the clear urgency for more accurate biodiversity data to assess the effects of future ecosystem challenges such as climate change and other anthropogenic effects. Here we compare traditional electrofishing surveys with environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring species distribution of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in the West Greenlandic sub‐Arctic river system of Kapisillit, which contains the only known population of Atlantic salmon in Greenland. Overall, electrofishing and eDNA surveys show high compatibility in regard to species detection and quantification, with Arctic char confirming a significant relationship between eDNA concentration and observed fish abundance. Both methods confirm a shift in species occurrence and relative species abundance through the river system. Specifically, salmon is restricted to the lower warmer sections of the river system while Arctic char is found throughout the system but dominates the upper parts. In total, the study supports eDNA as a promising tool for fish community assessment, which may serve a wide array of applications for Arctic freshwater monitoring. These applications include analyzing species occurrence and distribution of native and invasive species, as well as documenting potential shifts in relative species abundance as shown here. Given the ease of sampling and high sensitivity of the method, eDNA provides a powerful cost‐effective approach capable of detecting species in remote areas as well as corroborating fish community monitoring programs. This may especially be valuable for monitoring in the Arctic where logistic complications with sampling and high operational costs so far constrains routine monitoring. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Atlantic salmon Climate change Greenland greenlandic Kapisillit Salmo salar Salvelinus alpinus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Greenland Kapisillit ENVELOPE(-50.271,-50.271,64.435,64.435) Environmental DNA 5 4 782 795 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic monitoring electrofishing environmental DNA proportion analysis quantification Salmo salar Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbial ecology QR100-130 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic monitoring electrofishing environmental DNA proportion analysis quantification Salmo salar Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbial ecology QR100-130 Magnus W. Jacobsen Rasmus Nygaard Brian K. Hansen Mala Broberg Michael M. Hansen Rasmus Hedeholm Einar E. Nielsen Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
topic_facet |
Arctic monitoring electrofishing environmental DNA proportion analysis quantification Salmo salar Environmental sciences GE1-350 Microbial ecology QR100-130 |
description |
Abstract The current knowledge about fish biodiversity and species distributions in Arctic freshwater systems is generally limited. This contrasts the clear urgency for more accurate biodiversity data to assess the effects of future ecosystem challenges such as climate change and other anthropogenic effects. Here we compare traditional electrofishing surveys with environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring species distribution of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) in the West Greenlandic sub‐Arctic river system of Kapisillit, which contains the only known population of Atlantic salmon in Greenland. Overall, electrofishing and eDNA surveys show high compatibility in regard to species detection and quantification, with Arctic char confirming a significant relationship between eDNA concentration and observed fish abundance. Both methods confirm a shift in species occurrence and relative species abundance through the river system. Specifically, salmon is restricted to the lower warmer sections of the river system while Arctic char is found throughout the system but dominates the upper parts. In total, the study supports eDNA as a promising tool for fish community assessment, which may serve a wide array of applications for Arctic freshwater monitoring. These applications include analyzing species occurrence and distribution of native and invasive species, as well as documenting potential shifts in relative species abundance as shown here. Given the ease of sampling and high sensitivity of the method, eDNA provides a powerful cost‐effective approach capable of detecting species in remote areas as well as corroborating fish community monitoring programs. This may especially be valuable for monitoring in the Arctic where logistic complications with sampling and high operational costs so far constrains routine monitoring. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Magnus W. Jacobsen Rasmus Nygaard Brian K. Hansen Mala Broberg Michael M. Hansen Rasmus Hedeholm Einar E. Nielsen |
author_facet |
Magnus W. Jacobsen Rasmus Nygaard Brian K. Hansen Mala Broberg Michael M. Hansen Rasmus Hedeholm Einar E. Nielsen |
author_sort |
Magnus W. Jacobsen |
title |
Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
title_short |
Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
title_full |
Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
title_fullStr |
Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observing the Arctic: A comparison of environmental DNA (eDNA) and electrofishing for monitoring Arctic char and Atlantic salmon |
title_sort |
observing the arctic: a comparison of environmental dna (edna) and electrofishing for monitoring arctic char and atlantic salmon |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/article/4724a41cffd3432b97fca0847784bb86 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-50.271,-50.271,64.435,64.435) |
geographic |
Arctic Greenland Kapisillit |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Greenland Kapisillit |
genre |
Arctic Atlantic salmon Climate change Greenland greenlandic Kapisillit Salmo salar Salvelinus alpinus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Atlantic salmon Climate change Greenland greenlandic Kapisillit Salmo salar Salvelinus alpinus |
op_source |
Environmental DNA, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 782-795 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/toc/2637-4943 2637-4943 doi:10.1002/edn3.442 https://doaj.org/article/4724a41cffd3432b97fca0847784bb86 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.442 |
container_title |
Environmental DNA |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
4 |
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782 |
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795 |
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1774713769050505216 |