Development of new edna tools to detect aquatic invasive plants in uppermississippi river basinproject period: 3 15 2024 through 3 14 2027THE purpose of the research project is to contribute to…

The U.S. Geological Survey awarded a $439,666 Project Grant under the Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes program (CFDA 15.805) to the Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop new environmental DNA (eDNA) tools for detecting aquatic invasive plants in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The 3-year project aims to optimize eDNA metabarcoding protocols and validate the use of the MinION device for rapid field-based monitoring of invasive aquatic plants. Key deliverables include protocols, standard operating procedures, and cost analyses for using the MinION device, along with occupancy modeling to estimate species occurrence, peer-reviewed publications, stakeholder training workshops, and science communication outreach. The project will help expand eDNA-based early detection capabilities for managing aquatic invasive species across the region.

Activities

Selection of aquatic invasive plant species to focus on through discussions with regionalexperts, ongoing traditional monitoring programs, and managers field collections for edna taking place alongside traditional plant surveys collect edna, plant data, and covariates through existing aquatic plant programs tooptimize metabarcoding develop and optimize edna metabarcoding protocols and optimize selectedmetabarcoding protocols for use on the minion device field validate the minion device conduct occupancy modeling to estimate occurrence of aquatic invasive plant speciesand to compare between field and edna samplingdeliverables and expected outcomes: protocols, standard operating procedures, and cost analysis for using minion device tomonitor invasive aquatic plant species through edna sampling workshops providing training to stakeholders on protocols and standard operatingprocedures for using minion documentation of data, analysis codes, and a working example for applying occupancymodel to estimate species occurrence from detection histories peer reviewed publications on (1) occupancy model results and (2) the status, recommendations, and future research directions for developing aquatic plant ednatools and monitoring programs presentations at regional and international scientific and resource managementconferences science communication outreach through targeted, regional newsletter articles, blogposts, and podcasts training next generation of scientists, include awarding a masters of science degree andproviding undergraduate students with first research experiencesintended beneficiaries include communities, scientists, and managers interested and involved inthe monitoring and early detection of aquatic invasive plant species.