Exploring Environmental DNA as a Method for Monitoring Biological Characteristics of Surface Waters in the Tualatin River Watershed
Start Date
3-11-2024 11:20 AM
End Date
3-11-2024 11:29 AM
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA shed by organisms into the environment, and can be captured in water, soil or air samples. By identifying DNA captured in a sample, we can infer species present within a given environment. As such, eDNA is a promising tool for understanding spatial and temporal variation in biodiversity across a watershed. Clean Water Services (CWS), a water resource and recovery district serving Washington County, Oregon, discharges to the Tualatin River, a meandering, valley-floor river, sensitive to nutrient inputs and stream flow augmentation. Accordingly, we use macroinvertebrates surveys to monitor the biological characteristics with the watershed as part of our water-shed based NPDES permit. However, macroinvertebrate surveys and the indices used to analyze them are not well suited for river systems like the Tualatin. This results in a lack of resolution of changes in predicted water quality year over year. Given these challenges, we are piloting eDNA as a novel method for gaining detailed biological information. Using a metabarcoding approach, this pilot monitored nine sites representing diverse habitats within the Tualatin River Watershed, on a monthly or quarterly basis. the goal of this phase, which was to understand spatial and temporal trends in biodiversity between sites, and determine the benefits and limitations of using eDNA metabarcoding analysis. This presentation will encompass preliminary results, ongoing studies, regional partnerships, and plans for the future use of eDNA at CWS.
Subjects
Habitat assessment, Water quality
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41419
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Exploring Environmental DNA as a Method for Monitoring Biological Characteristics of Surface Waters in the Tualatin River Watershed
Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA shed by organisms into the environment, and can be captured in water, soil or air samples. By identifying DNA captured in a sample, we can infer species present within a given environment. As such, eDNA is a promising tool for understanding spatial and temporal variation in biodiversity across a watershed. Clean Water Services (CWS), a water resource and recovery district serving Washington County, Oregon, discharges to the Tualatin River, a meandering, valley-floor river, sensitive to nutrient inputs and stream flow augmentation. Accordingly, we use macroinvertebrates surveys to monitor the biological characteristics with the watershed as part of our water-shed based NPDES permit. However, macroinvertebrate surveys and the indices used to analyze them are not well suited for river systems like the Tualatin. This results in a lack of resolution of changes in predicted water quality year over year. Given these challenges, we are piloting eDNA as a novel method for gaining detailed biological information. Using a metabarcoding approach, this pilot monitored nine sites representing diverse habitats within the Tualatin River Watershed, on a monthly or quarterly basis. the goal of this phase, which was to understand spatial and temporal trends in biodiversity between sites, and determine the benefits and limitations of using eDNA metabarcoding analysis. This presentation will encompass preliminary results, ongoing studies, regional partnerships, and plans for the future use of eDNA at CWS.