The Implantation of Quantitative Edna to Manage Fisheries in Freshwater Ecosystems

Evidence that the quantity of eDNA may be related to species abundance is growing.  This project aims to improve the method of eDNA to assess its potential to become a fisheries management tool for freshwater ecosystems in Québec. To reach this objective, eDNA quantification methods have been adapted for three highly exploited fish species (Salvelinus fontinalis, Salvelinus namaycush, Sander vitreus) and the relationship between the eDNA concentration and species abundance in lakes was tested. The quantity of eDNA in 31 lakes was estimated using quantitative PCR, amplifying the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) from species specific markers and probes. The eDNA found in water samples collected in Québec lakes has showed the presence of the targeted species in all cases. Moreover, our results also revealed a positive correlation between fish abundance (estimated as CPUE) in some cases but success was variable depending on species. We will also discuss ways to improve this method and the biotic and abiotic variables that should be added to predictive models before integrating eDNA quantification into fisheries management.