Importance of Valid Environmental DNA Markers As Part of Integrated Pest Management of Aquatic Invasive Species

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis constitutes a rapidly expanding surveillance technology for the detection of fish and wildlife presence and abundance by resource agencies.  With the increased use of eDNA as an early detection tool in the Great Lakes region, major US Rivers, and other bodies of water across the US, there is a continuous need for more sensitive and interpretable markers.  However, it is imperative that new markers are validated prior to implementation by resource management agencies. Once markers have been properly validated, the use of eDNA can become an important component of an integrative pest management program. UMESC, ERDC, and WGL have established validation guidelines for new markers. This validation procedure includes a step-by-step process for labs as they develop markers, and then outlines an approach for external lab validation to vet the new markers before implementation. Once markers are validated, a properly designed eDNA monitoring can provide valuable information about the species of interest. This information can help in identifying potential controls and easily incorporated into an integrated pest management approach to controlling aquatic invasive species.