Changes in river systems, overfishing and the emergence of new invasive species can lead to a sharp decline in the number of native fish living in aquatic ecosystems.
Bitterwort (Rhodeus atremius suigensis), once abundant in Japan’s Ashida River Basin, is now on the verge of extinction. This is of concern as it is considered an indicator species for the conservation of fish diversity in freshwater ecosystems. Efforts to protect local aquatic life require field surveys of large areas to understand the habitat needs and population densities of various species. This is a complex task that requires significant time and effort. To overcome this hurdle, scientists typically focus on small areas and track the DNA released by living organisms into their environment.
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Recently, scientists at Okayama University in Japan investigated not only the presence but also distribution and population density of bitter chicken in the Ashida River Basin in Fukuyama, Japan, using ecological DNA (eDNA). They used a method for semi-quantitative analysis of eDNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. They developed DNA primers that detect a portion of bitter mitochondrial DNA and made their analysis very specific to that particular species only. They published their findings upon completion of the study.
“We first confirmed the usefulness of this analysis in aquarium experiments before conducting field studies,” said Professor Kazuyoshi Nakata of Okayama University, who led the study.
The research team also included Okayama University’s Kanoko Otsuki, Dr. Mayuko Hamada and Professor Tatsuya Sakamoto, and Dr. It also included Noriyuki Koizumi.
The researchers found that eDNA concentrations varied depending on the distance of the downstream channel from the point where the bitterling was sampled – the greater the distance, the lower the eDNA concentration. “Our results serve as a benchmark for determining how far and how far downstream eDNA can be found, which will be useful for guiding future fish conservation studies,” said Professor Nakata.
Thus, the researchers were able to confirm that eDNA concentrations are indicative of bitterness distribution and abundance. Even local residents can assist with environmental surveys, as this method only requires water sampling from the field. Future conservation efforts can use information from these studies to develop appropriate strategies.
This method scales well and can be replicated over large areas. In addition, with the development of appropriate molecular tools, such as specific primers such as those used in this experiment, this method could be modified to study other endangered species. This will not only promote the conservation of endangered species, but will also make an invaluable contribution to raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation with the involvement of local communities.
Previously Focus He wrote about the oldest vertebrate brain accidentally found. While testing the equipment for a larger project, the scientist was surprised to find a highly detailed Paleozoic fish brain fossil.
Source: Focus
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