Alaska eDNA Workshop April 1, 2019

A one-day meeting (hosted by the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership) took place April 1 of 2019 bringing together state and federal agencies, university researchers, Tribes, and NGOs for a regional discussion about the state of eDNA research and existing and future applications across Alaska. The agenda, brief synopsis and presentations are included below. Presentations and discussion touched on topics of interest garnered in early outreach efforts including: 

  • desire for a primer on the science of eDNA sampling, including methodology issues related to
    • single and multiple species sampling
    • laboratory practices and locations in Alaska and Pacific Northwest
    • field sample collection protocols
    • abundance vs presence/absence methods
    • freshwater/marine environment/terrestrial sampling considerations
    • assessing overall biodiversity using metabarcoding approaches
  • interest in using eDNA for habitat mapping endangered species, invasive species and anadromous species and associated relevance to nominations to the Anadromous Waters Catalog
  • overview of existing sampling efforts taking place across Alaska (freshwater/marine/terrestrial)
  • recommendations for developing sampling protocols/cost considerations

Meeting Agenda

eDNA Terminology Resource

Meeting Synopsis

Workshop Presentations

Session 1. Primer on science status of eDNA, considerations for Alaska

eDNA Primer & USFWS Perspectives – Ora Russ (USWFS Genetics Lab)

An Ecologists Guide to eDNA: Examples from Oregon – Brooke Penaluna (USFS, PNWRS)

eDNA at AFSC: Environmental DNA at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center – Chris Kondzela (NOAA Genetics Lab)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Anadromous Waters Catalog and Position on eDNA Sampling Methods – J Johnson (ADFG AWC), Chris Habicht (ADFG Genetics Lab)

ADFG Anadromous Waters Catalog Information

ADFG AWC Guidelines and Position on eDNA Sampling

Session 2. Field applications utilizing eDNA sampling

Auke Creek salmon eDNA – David Tallmon (UAS)

Using Environmental DNA to Monitor Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) Abundance Northern Southeast Alaska (aka hooligan, Saak) – Meredith Pochardt (Takshanuk)

Identifying distribution boundaries at the upper extent of fish in forested streams with electrofishing and eDNA – Brooke Penaluna (USFS, PNWRS)

A Rapid Assessment Method to Estimate the Distribution of Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Tributary Habitats Using eDNA and Occupancy Estimation – Jeff Falke (UAF) for Allison Matter (see additional publication resource noted below)

Using eDNA (single species qPCR assays) for aquatic invasive species in Alaska – Ora Russ (USFWS Genetics Lab)

Multispecies/Metabarcoding with eDNA – Damian Menning (USGS)

eDNA Resources