AUTHORS: Madison Suttman, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Jinelle Sperry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
ABSTRACT: Despite covering just a fraction of Earth’s surface, freshwater ecosystems are critical biodiversity hotspots but are among the most vulnerable of environments for anthropogenic and climate-induced change. Traditional methods of aquatic biomonitoring are labor-intensive and require extensive taxonomic expertise, which can limit the scope and effectiveness of conservation management. Aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) demonstrates a non-invasive approach that enables the detection of taxa based on genetic material shed into the environment. This study aims to compare eDNA biomonitoring and metabarcoding with traditional methods for detecting and identifying freshwater species to generate regional and eDNA-based water quality assessments. It also seeks to evaluate the spatiotemporal effects of habitat quality, seasonality, and climate variability on species assemblages. Through routine fish and benthic macroinvertebrate surveys, physical habitat assessments, and aquatic eDNA sampling of 22 headwater streams on Fort Johnson, Louisiana, this research will contribute to comprehensive natural resource management on military lands.
