Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

There is a need to develop and evaluate eDNA dreissenid mussel field sampling protocols. We compared two common eDNA field sampling methods, sub-surface grab samples and plankton tow samples, in 12 waterbodies with known or potential dreissenid mussel infestations spanning the coterminous United States. To mimic early detection sampling scenarios, we sampled waterbodies or areas within waterbodies that had lower densities of dreissenid mussels or were suspect for dreissenid mussels. The two eDNA sampling methods resulted in similar dreissenid mussel DNA detection patterns. Both methods detected target DNA at the same 7 waterbodies and both methods failed to detect target DNA at the same 5 waterbodies. At one of the lower density sites, more mussel DNA was amplified in plankton tow samples than from grab samples.