76 / 2023-12-31 01:56:10

Key Environmental Factors Impacting eDNA Quantitative Detection of Invasive Mussels in Water Diversion Projects

water diversion projects,quantitative detection,invasive mussel,environmental DNA

Invasive species pose challenges to aquatic ecosystem globally. Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) as a typical invasive species that has caused significant ecological and economic impacts, especially in artificial pipelines. Therefore, development of effective monitoring of golden mussel is crucial for effective control of its invasion. In this context, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has been emerged as a promising technique in detecting presence of invasive species. However, there is a clear gap in establishment of a quantitative correlation between eDNA concentration and golden mussel abundance, which is essential to accurately quantitative monitoring. This study aims to bridge this gap based on long-term observation of eDNA concentration and veliger density of golden mussel in the Middle South-North Water Diversion Project (MRSNWDP) in China, the world's largest water diversion project that is affected by golden mussel biofouling. The study established an exponential quantitative relationship between eDNA concentration and veliger density of golden mussel. In addition, our study provided insight into the interaction between key quantitative items of golden mussel and environmental factors. It was shown that water temperature and pH had a significant effect on the different life stages of golden mussel. A generalized additive model (GAM) was furtherly applied to analyze the effects of water temperature and pH on the relationship between eDNA concentration and mussel density. It sheds light on the critical environmental factors that influence the relationship between eDNA and the abundance of invasive mussels. This progress establishes a fundamental framework for incorporating eDNA technology into broader field surveys and will be benefit for effective control of invasive species.