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Recommended Methods for eDNA Water Sampling in Estuarine Systems

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About the Project

From 2018-2019, six National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) collaborated with the University of New Hampshire to develop and test Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling methods in estuarine systems. Based on their findings, they developed a set of recommendations for sampling in estuarine systems, with the aim of maximizing the amount of information gained relative to the time and cost of sampling.

About this resource

This factsheet describes the process of environmental DNA (eDNA) water sampling in estuarine systems, and provides specific methdology recommendations to facilitate detection of invasive species. These recommendations were developed for the National Estuarine Reserve System, and are appropriate for the level of resources and available at most NERRs, but are also relevant to any estuarine sampling program.

Additional resources, including protocols for collecting and filtering water and extracting DNA, are available on the project webpage: estuaryDNA.org. Questions about this factsheet can be directed to Alison Watts, University of New Hampshre, Email: Alison.Watts@unh.edu