The use of freshwater environmental DNA (eDNA) for rapid and cost-effective detection of native and non-native salmonid species in Cape Breton / by Brendan F. Wringe, Nicholas W. Jeffery, Francis LeBlanc,...: Fs97-6/3527E-PDF

"The recovery of endangered Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) populations is hampered by multiple stressors, including competition with non-native salmonids. Native Atlantic Salmon of the Eastern Cape Breton Designatable Unit (DU) face competition from introduced Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and introduced and aquaculture escapee Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The degree to which this competition impacts the DU as a whole largely depends on the extent of the spatial and temporal co-occurrence of salmon populations with either, or both, non-native trout species. To refine our understanding of the overlap between Eastern Cape Breton Atlantic Salmon and introduced Brown and Rainbow trout, we undertook a survey of rivers using environmental DNA (eDNA). The utility of eDNA for the detection of native and introduced species has been well proven. Rivers were selected for geographic coverage of Bras d'Or Lake and based on current or historic presence of Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow, and Brown trout. Atlantic Salmon DNA was detected in 11 of 15 rivers sampled. Brown Trout DNA was detected in 10 rivers, and co-occurred with Atlantic Salmon in eight of these. Rainbow Trout DNA was detected in two sampled rivers, and co-occurred with both Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon DNA in both sites. These results suggest that co-occurrence of Atlantic Salmon with introduced salmonid competitors may be widespread, and thus could have implications for the recovery of Eastern Cape Breton Designatable Unit Atlantic Salmon"--Abstract, page vi.

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