Dysthe JC, Carim KJ, Ruggles M, McKelvey KS, Young MK, Schwartz MK. Environmental DNA assays for the sister taxa sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus).
PLoS One 2017;
12:e0176459. [PMID:
28441436 PMCID:
PMC5404789 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0176459]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (S. vitreus) are percid fishes that naturally co-occur throughout much of the eastern United States. The native range of sauger extends into the upper Missouri River drainage where walleye did not historically occur, but have been stocked as a sport fish. Sauger populations have been declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and competition with non-native species, such as walleye. To effectively manage sauger populations, it is necessary to identify areas where sauger occur, and particularly where they co-occur with walleye. We developed quantitative PCR assays that can detect sauger and walleye DNA in filtered water samples. Each assay efficiently detected low quantities of target DNA and failed to detect DNA of non-target species with which they commonly co-occur.
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