USING eDNA ANALYSIS FROM WATER SAMPLES IN A COMMON SNOOK, CENTROPOMUS UNDECIMALIS, SURVEY

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is genetic material an organism leaves behind in its habitat, originating from blood, waste, or shed skin, among other sources. In aquatic environments, it is possible to extract eDNA from water samples, allowing for a variety of genetic tests to be performed, with great value in the fields of endangered species protection, invasive species control, and fisheries management among others. eDNA can persist in freshwater environments for many hours and can be attributed to fish up to one kilometer upstream from the collection site. However, water conditions in marine environments may reduce the survivability of eDNA. I evaluated the reliability eDNA analysis in the marine environment by analyzing water samples taken immediately before a survey of the common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, an important game fish. The eDNA sampling method was successful at detecting snook presence in the Indian River Lagoon, although with some practical limitations.