Comparing environmental DNA and microscope identification for assessments of macroinvertebrate biodiversity in northern Arizona

Dozal-Young, Yazhmin Ailed (2023) Comparing environmental DNA and microscope identification for assessments of macroinvertebrate biodiversity in northern Arizona. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

In the arid southwestern region of the United States, increased temperatures and more variable precipitation associated with climate change will change the biodiversity and productivity of small water bodies such as ponds and wetlands. Ponds are isolated and closed systems, the lack of water flow allows DNA to accumulate within these systems, which makes ponds an excellent system to use environmental DNA (eDNA). This study compared the frequency and richness of invertebrates found in eight stock ponds in 2019 by eDNA and community sampling followed by microscope identifications. To target kingdom Animalia and phylum Arthropoda, eDNA was sequenced for the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial marker using BR5 and F230 primers. Environmental DNA metabarcoding for ponds resulted in higher richness than microscope identification (p-value=0.0024). However, when eDNA sequences with low resolution taxonomic identifications (e.g., only to phylum) were removed from the dataset, microscope richness was higher (p-value= 0.03). Further development of sampling and data processing workflows, and comprehensive reference sequence databases for regional species would help the utility of eDNA as an identification method in this region. Coupling eDNA with microscope identification could provide the information to determine stock pond biodiversity the most accurately, which can function as a proxy for pond secondary productivity. By integrating microscope and eDNA methods, managers can more efficiently identify which ponds are priority to maintain with their limited resources.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	aquatic ecology; Arizona; biodiversity; environmental DNA; microscope;Stock ponds
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences > School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2023 22:37
Last Modified:	30 May 2024 08:30
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6107

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