Environmental DNA’s Usage and Accessibility in Southeastern Massachusetts Monitoring Agencies.

Kozol, Eva*¹, James Garner¹, Michelle Staudinger^1,2, ¹Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, ²U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Understanding historical and current baselines of aquatic biodiversity within a region is an important part of making informed climate change adaptation decisions and implementing effective restoration actions. For many coastal communities, state agencies, and NGOs, monitoring programs track marine, freshwater and diadromous fish species using resource intensive tools such as fyke nets, trawls, electrofishing, etc. This study assessed the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a more cost-effective aquatic biodiversity monitoring tool through the exploration of four case studies that engaged the Town of Hull MA, Plymouth MA, the North and South River Watershed Association, and the MA Division of Marine Fisheries. Each partner was interviewed and asked to provide annual budgets in order to assess the difference in costs between traditional surveys and eDNA monitoring. Partners gave information on current monitoring projects, ecological goals, and their experience and understanding of eDNA as well as its current and future impacts on tracking aquatic biodiversity. Preliminary results have found partners had different knowledge levels of eDNA as a potential monitoring technique, however accessibility to this monitoring tool is limited due to learning curves of applications and the effectiveness of the method to replace traditional tools. Results are intended to inform other municipalities and marine monitoring organizations to make more informed and balanced decisions on integrating eDNA into their monitoring programs.