title: Rapid molecular detection of invasive species in ballast and harbor water by integrating environmental DNA and light transmission spectroscopy.
abstract: Invasive species introduced via the ballast water of commercial ships cause enormous environmental and economic damage worldwide. Accurate monitoring for these often microscopic and morphologically indistinguishable species is challenging but critical for mitigating damages. We apply eDNA sampling, which involves the filtering and subsequent DNA extraction of microscopic bits of tissue suspended in water, to ballast and harbor water sampled during a commercial ship's 1400 km voyage through the North American Great Lakes. Using a lab-based gel electrophoresis assay and a rapid, field-ready light transmission spectroscopy (LTS) assay, we test for the presence of two invasive species: quagga (Dreissena bugensis) and zebra (D. polymorpha) mussels. Furthermore, we spiked a set of uninfested ballast and harbor samples with zebra mussel tissue to further test each assay's detection capabilities. In unmanipulated samples, zebra mussel was not detected, while quagga mussel was detected in all samples at a rate of 85% for the gel assay and 100% for the LTS assay. In the spiked experimental samples, both assays detected zebra mussel in 94% of spiked samples and 0% of negative controls. Overall, these results demonstrate that eDNA sampling is effective for monitoring ballast-mediated invasions and that LTS has the potential for rapid, field-based detection.
authors: †Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.|‡Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|§Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Scott P
authors: SP
authors: Egan
authors: §Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|∥College of Science, Governors State University, University Park, Illinois 60484, United States.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Grey
authors: §Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Brett
authors: B
authors: Olds
authors: ‡Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|§Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Jeffery L
authors: JL
authors: Feder
authors: §Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|⊥Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Steven T
authors: ST
authors: Ruggiero
authors: §Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|⊥Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: Carol E
authors: CE
authors: Tanner
authors: ‡Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.|§Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Lodge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D049875:Dreissena; D058865:Introduced Species; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012767:Ships; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D004247:DNA