Environmental Conditions Influence eDNA Persistence in Aquatic Systems

What is it about?

Through literature review and experiments, we find that many variables interact and influence how long genetic material sticks around in the aquatic environment after it has been shed from an organism. Factors include characteristics of the genetic material itself (DNA conformation and length, presence of membranes), theabiotic environment (light, oxygen, pH, salinity, presence of substrates), and biotic environment (abundance and composition of microbes and their enzymes).

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Why is it important?

Measurements of local environmental conditions, consideration of environmental influence on eDNA detection, and quantification of local eDNA degradation rates will help interpret future eDNA surveillance results.