TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigating the potential use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for genetic monitoring of marine mammals

AU - Foote, Andrew D

AU - Thomsen, Philip Francis

AU - Sveegaard, Signe

AU - Wahlberg, Magnus

AU - Kielgast, Jos

AU - Kyhn, Line A

AU - Salling, Andreas B

AU - Galatius, Anders

AU - Orlando, Ludovic

AU - Gilbert, M Thomas P

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - The exploitation of non-invasive samples has been widely used in genetic monitoring of terrestrial species. In aquatic ecosystems, non-invasive samples such as feces, shed hair or skin, are less accessible. However, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently been shown to be an effective tool for genetic monitoring of species presence in freshwater ecosystems. Detecting species in the marine environment using eDNA potentially offers a greater challenge due to the greater dilution, amount of mixing and salinity compared with most freshwater ecosystems. To determine the potential use of eDNA for genetic monitoring we used specific primers that amplify short mitochondrial DNA sequences to detect the presence of a marine mammal, the harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in a controlled environment and in natural marine locations. The reliability of the genetic detections was investigated by comparing with detections of harbor porpoise echolocation clicks by static acoustic monitoring devices. While we were able to consistently genetically detect the target species under controlled conditions, the results from natural locations were less consistent and detection by eDNA was less successful than acoustic detections. However, at one site we detected long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, a species rarely sighted in the Baltic. Therefore, with optimization aimed towards processing larger volumes of seawater this method has the potential to compliment current visual and acoustic methods of species detection of marine mammals.

AB - The exploitation of non-invasive samples has been widely used in genetic monitoring of terrestrial species. In aquatic ecosystems, non-invasive samples such as feces, shed hair or skin, are less accessible. However, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has recently been shown to be an effective tool for genetic monitoring of species presence in freshwater ecosystems. Detecting species in the marine environment using eDNA potentially offers a greater challenge due to the greater dilution, amount of mixing and salinity compared with most freshwater ecosystems. To determine the potential use of eDNA for genetic monitoring we used specific primers that amplify short mitochondrial DNA sequences to detect the presence of a marine mammal, the harbor porpoise, Phocoena phocoena, in a controlled environment and in natural marine locations. The reliability of the genetic detections was investigated by comparing with detections of harbor porpoise echolocation clicks by static acoustic monitoring devices. While we were able to consistently genetically detect the target species under controlled conditions, the results from natural locations were less consistent and detection by eDNA was less successful than acoustic detections. However, at one site we detected long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, a species rarely sighted in the Baltic. Therefore, with optimization aimed towards processing larger volumes of seawater this method has the potential to compliment current visual and acoustic methods of species detection of marine mammals.

KW - Acoustics

KW - Animals

KW - Biodiversity

KW - DNA/metabolism

KW - DNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism

KW - Denmark

KW - Ecosystem

KW - Environment

KW - Environmental Monitoring/methods

KW - Fresh Water

KW - Mammals/physiology

KW - Models, Genetic

KW - Polymerase Chain Reaction

KW - Porpoises/physiology

KW - Species Specificity

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0041781

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0041781

M3 - Article

C2 - 22952587

VL - 7

SP - e41781

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

SN - 1932-6203

IS - 8

ER -