Seasonal variation in environmental DNA in relation to population size and environmental factors.

摘要: Analysing DNA that organisms release into the environment (environmental DNA, or eDNA) has enormous potential for assessing rare and cryptic species. At present method is only reliably used to assess presence-absence of species in natural environments, as seasonal influences on eDNA relation presence, abundance, life stages behaviours are poorly understood. A naturally colonised, replicated pond system was show how changes were influenced by abundance adults larvae great crested newts (Triturus cristatus). Peaks observed early June when adult breeding coming an end, between mid-July mid-August corresponding a peak newt larval abundance. Changes body condition associated with reproduction also concentrations, did temperature (but not rainfall UV). concentration fell rapidly metamorphosed left ponds. may therefore reflect relative different ponds, although environmental factors can affect concentrations observed. Nevertheless, surveys still represent improvement over unadjusted counts which widely population assessments but have unreliable relationships size.