Environmental DNA Methods for Ecological Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment in Estuaries
UC Davis researchers and co-authors have published a paper reviewing the state of the science for environmental DNA (eDNA) methods in estuarine environments, like the ecologically important San Francisco Estuary. This genetics-based approach allows for the indirect detection of species of interest from environmental samples like water or soil. The paper grew out of a symposium and round table discussion hosted by UC Davis in early 2020, chaired by Professor Richard Connon (Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology). This highly successful event was sponsored by the Delta Stewardship Council: Delta Science Program (DSP), UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI), California Department of Water Resources, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
eDNA Symposium Committee Members:
RICHARD CONNON (Chair), School of Veterinary Medicine, UC, Davis; RAVI NAGARAJAN (Corresponding Author), Genomics Variation Laboratory, UC, Davis; MALLORY BEDWELL (Corresponding Author), Department of Water Resources; ANDREA SCHREIER, Genomics Variation Laboratory, UC, Davis; MELINDA BAERWALD, Department of Water Resources; DAPHNE GILLE, Department of Fish and Wildlife; SCOTT BLANKENSHIP, Cramer Fish Sciences; SHAWN ACUÑA, Metropolitan Water District; MORGAN KILGOUR, Delta Stewardship Council; with support from CAROLE HOM and RICK GROSBERG, Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute, UC, Davis.