Life Sciences Commons^™

Noninvasive Method For A Statewide Survey Of Eastern Hellbenders Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Using Environmental Dna, Amy J. Santas, Tyler Persaud, Barbara A. Wolfe, Jenise Bauman

College of the Environment on the Peninsulas Publications

Traditional survey methods of aquatic organisms may be difficult, lengthy, and destructive to the habitat. Some methods are invasive and can be harmful to the target species. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has proven to be effective at detecting low population density aquatic macroorganisms. This study refined the technique to support statewide surveys. Hellbender presence was identified by using hellbender specific primers (cytochrome b gene) to detect eDNA in water samples collected at rivers, streams and creeks in Ohio and Kentucky with historical accounts of the imperiled eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis). Two sampling protocols are described; …