OOS 29 - Changing the focus of eDNA – pushing beyond species presence/absence applications to unlock the trove of ecological information in environmental nucleic acids

Organizer(s)

• LB

  Louis Bernatchez

  Professor
  Laval University, Canada

Co-Organizer(s)

• MY

  Matthew Yates

  University of Windsor, United States

Moderator(s)

• MD

  Margaret Docker, PhD

  Professor
  University of Manitoba
  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

After just over a decade from the first published study employing environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect macro-organisms (Ficetola et al. 2008), eDNA has revolutionized the science of species detection and is now broadly recognized as one of the most effective methods to determine the presence or absence of a species in aquatic environments. However, innovative research is demonstrating that eDNA (and potentially eRNA) could provide a trove of genetic and ecological information beyond species presence or absence data. Novel research on understanding the dynamics of environmental nucleic acids (e.g. its production, degradation, transport, and state) in nature are refining its application as a means to study or monitor population ecology, and novel research has highlighted eDNA as a potential source population genetic information. Similarly, emergent research on eRNA has illustrated its potential to allow researchers to push beyond species-level detections to infer the physiological state of progenitor organisms. In this symposium, we hear from researchers who are using eDNA and eRNA to study evolutionary or ecological questions beyond traditional species presence/absence applications. Our speakers will discuss effective ways by which eDNA can inform on the spatio-temporal dynamics of ecological communities, future prospects for monitoring organism abundance using eDNA, leveraging eDNA to obtain population genetic information, and pushing the resolution of detection beyond species-level applications using eRNA. Presentations in this symposium will explore opportunities to use eDNA and eRNA to study population and community ecology beyond species detection applications, while also identifying knowledge gaps and discussing potential limitations.

Presentations:

• 1:30 PM – 1:45 PM EDT

  The importance of species biology, ecology, and hydrology for the quantitative interpretation of eDNA-based data in lotic systems
  

  Presenting Author: Bettina Thalinger – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Dominik Kirschner – Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

  Co-author: Yannick Pütz – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Elisabeth Wolf – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Christian Moritz – ARGE Limnologie GesmbH

  Co-author: Richard Schwarzenberger – ARGE Limnologie GesmbH

  Co-author: Josef Wanzenböck – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Thorsten Schwerte – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Michael Traugott – University of Innsbruck

  Co-author: Dirk Steinke – University of Guelph
• 1:45 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

  Evaluating the effects of sampling design, sequence coverage, and bioinformatic filtering toward an optimal protocol for documenting freshwater fish communities in northern temperate lakes.
  

  Presenting Author: Erik Garcia-Machado – Université Laval

  Co-author: Eric Normandeau – Université Laval, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)

  Co-author: Guillaume Côté – Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs

  Co-author: Isabeau Caza-Allard – Université Laval, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)

  Co-author: Charles Babin – Université Laval, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS)

  Co-author: Louis Bernatchez – Laval University
• 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM EDT

  Integrating physiology to improve environmental DNA (eDNA) as a means to monitor freshwater macro-organism abundance
  

  Presenting Author: Matthew C. Yates – University of Windsor

  Co-author: Alison M. Derry, PhD – Université du Québec à Montréal

  Co-author: Melania E. Cristescu, PhD – McGill University

  Co-author: Taylor Wilcox – U.S. Department of Agriculture

  Co-author: Mark Stoeckle, PhD – Rockefeller University

  Co-author: Daniel D. Heath, PhD – Department of Integrative Biology, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
• 2:15 PM – 2:30 PM EDT

  Beyond presence/absence: Analysis of environmental microsatellite DNA (emDNA) to infer population abundance - a case study in Atlantic salmon
  

  Presenting Author: Bryan D. Neff – Western University

  Co-author: Bryan D. Neff – Western University

  Co-author: Daniel D. Heath, PhD – Department of Integrative Biology, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada

  Co-author: Nabeelah Lulat – University of Windsor

  Co-author: Simone Miklosi – Western University

  Co-author: Shawn R. Garner – Western University
• 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM EDT

  Environmental RNA applications for determining age structure in amphibian populations
  

  Presenting Author: Meghan Parsley – Washington State University

  Co-author: Caren S. Goldberg – Washington State university
• 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

  Environmental transcriptomics under heat stress: can environmental RNA reveal changes in gene-expression across the trophic chain?
  

  Presenting Author: Robert M. Hechler – McGill University

  Co-author: Robert M. Hechler – McGill University

  Co-author: Matthew C. Yates – University of Windsor

  Co-author: Frederic J. J. Chain – University of Massachusetts Lowell

  Co-author: Melania E. Cristescu, PhD – McGill University