Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)

Caterina Maria Antognazza; J. Robert Britton; Caitlin Potter; Elizabeth Franklin; Emilie A. Hardouin; C Gutmann Roberts; Miran Aprahamian; Demetra Andreou

doi:10.1002/aqc.3010

Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)

Caterina Maria Antognazza^*, J. Robert Britton, Caitlin Potter, Elizabeth Franklin, Emilie A. Hardouin, C Gutmann Roberts, Miran Aprahamian, Demetra Andreou

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Bournemouth University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Abstract Populations of the European shads Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Alosa fallax Lacépède, 1800 (Alosa spp.) are protected under legislation because of their vulnerability to human disturbances. In particular, river impoundments block their upstream migration, preventing access to spawning areas. Knowledge on the spatial extent of their spawning is important for informing conservation and river management plans. Determining the spatial extent of Alosa spp. spawning is challenging. They enter rivers over a 2‐3‐month period and the species potentially migrate different distances upstream. Capture and handling can be problematic, spawning events generally occur at night, and kick‐sampling for eggs is limited to shallow water. Assessing their spatial extent of spawning could, however, incorporate non‐invasive sampling tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA). An eDNA assay for Alosa spp. was successfully developed, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene segment and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Application in spring 2017 to the River Teme (River Severn catchment, western England) revealed high sensitivity in both laboratory and field trials. Field data indicated Alosa spp. spawning between May and June, with migrants mainly restricted to areas downstream of the final impoundment. eDNA can thus be used as a non‐invasive sampling tool to determine the freshwater distribution of these fishes in Europe, enhancing their conservation at local and regional scales.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	148-152
Number of pages	0
Journal	Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
Volume	29
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3010
Publication status	Published - Jan 2019

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Antognazza, C. M., Britton, J. R., Potter, C., Franklin, E., Hardouin, E. A., Gutmann Roberts, C., Aprahamian, M., & Andreou, D. (2019). Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.). Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 29(1), 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3010

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title = "Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)",

abstract = "Abstract Populations of the European shads Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Alosa fallax Lac{\'e}p{\`e}de, 1800 (Alosa spp.) are protected under legislation because of their vulnerability to human disturbances. In particular, river impoundments block their upstream migration, preventing access to spawning areas. Knowledge on the spatial extent of their spawning is important for informing conservation and river management plans. Determining the spatial extent of Alosa spp. spawning is challenging. They enter rivers over a 2‐3‐month period and the species potentially migrate different distances upstream. Capture and handling can be problematic, spawning events generally occur at night, and kick‐sampling for eggs is limited to shallow water. Assessing their spatial extent of spawning could, however, incorporate non‐invasive sampling tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA). An eDNA assay for Alosa spp. was successfully developed, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene segment and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Application in spring 2017 to the River Teme (River Severn catchment, western England) revealed high sensitivity in both laboratory and field trials. Field data indicated Alosa spp. spawning between May and June, with migrants mainly restricted to areas downstream of the final impoundment. eDNA can thus be used as a non‐invasive sampling tool to determine the freshwater distribution of these fishes in Europe, enhancing their conservation at local and regional scales. ",

author = "Antognazza, {Caterina Maria} and Britton, {J. Robert} and Caitlin Potter and Elizabeth Franklin and Hardouin, {Emilie A.} and {Gutmann Roberts}, C and Miran Aprahamian and Demetra Andreou",

year = "2019",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1002/aqc.3010",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

pages = "148--152",

journal = "Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems",

issn = "1052-7613",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",

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}

Antognazza, CM, Britton, JR, Potter, C, Franklin, E, Hardouin, EA, Gutmann Roberts, C, Aprahamian, M & Andreou, D 2019, 'Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)', Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3010

TY - JOUR

T1 - Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)

AU - Antognazza, Caterina Maria

AU - Britton, J. Robert

AU - Potter, Caitlin

AU - Franklin, Elizabeth

AU - Hardouin, Emilie A.

AU - Gutmann Roberts, C

AU - Aprahamian, Miran

AU - Andreou, Demetra

PY - 2019/1

Y1 - 2019/1

N2 - Abstract Populations of the European shads Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Alosa fallax Lacépède, 1800 (Alosa spp.) are protected under legislation because of their vulnerability to human disturbances. In particular, river impoundments block their upstream migration, preventing access to spawning areas. Knowledge on the spatial extent of their spawning is important for informing conservation and river management plans. Determining the spatial extent of Alosa spp. spawning is challenging. They enter rivers over a 2‐3‐month period and the species potentially migrate different distances upstream. Capture and handling can be problematic, spawning events generally occur at night, and kick‐sampling for eggs is limited to shallow water. Assessing their spatial extent of spawning could, however, incorporate non‐invasive sampling tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA). An eDNA assay for Alosa spp. was successfully developed, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene segment and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Application in spring 2017 to the River Teme (River Severn catchment, western England) revealed high sensitivity in both laboratory and field trials. Field data indicated Alosa spp. spawning between May and June, with migrants mainly restricted to areas downstream of the final impoundment. eDNA can thus be used as a non‐invasive sampling tool to determine the freshwater distribution of these fishes in Europe, enhancing their conservation at local and regional scales.

AB - Abstract Populations of the European shads Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Alosa fallax Lacépède, 1800 (Alosa spp.) are protected under legislation because of their vulnerability to human disturbances. In particular, river impoundments block their upstream migration, preventing access to spawning areas. Knowledge on the spatial extent of their spawning is important for informing conservation and river management plans. Determining the spatial extent of Alosa spp. spawning is challenging. They enter rivers over a 2‐3‐month period and the species potentially migrate different distances upstream. Capture and handling can be problematic, spawning events generally occur at night, and kick‐sampling for eggs is limited to shallow water. Assessing their spatial extent of spawning could, however, incorporate non‐invasive sampling tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA). An eDNA assay for Alosa spp. was successfully developed, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene segment and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Application in spring 2017 to the River Teme (River Severn catchment, western England) revealed high sensitivity in both laboratory and field trials. Field data indicated Alosa spp. spawning between May and June, with migrants mainly restricted to areas downstream of the final impoundment. eDNA can thus be used as a non‐invasive sampling tool to determine the freshwater distribution of these fishes in Europe, enhancing their conservation at local and regional scales.

U2 - 10.1002/aqc.3010

DO - 10.1002/aqc.3010

M3 - Article

SN - 1052-7613

VL - 29

SP - 148

EP - 152

JO - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

JF - Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

IS - 1

ER -

Environmental DNA as a non‐invasive sampling tool to detect the spawning distribution of European anadromous shads (Alosa spp.)

Abstract

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