Potential use of environmental DNA haplotyping for estimating the dispersal of an invasive fish, bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), in Japan

This study aimed to demonstrate the potential use of environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approaches for tracking the dispersal of invasive species. The genetic diversity within populations of invasive species provides valuable information for estimating their origin and dispersal pathways. We developed an eDNA haplotyping approach for bluegill sunfish, an invasive fish in Japan, targeting mitochondrial DNA regions (ND1 and D-loop). Extensive field surveys were conducted in western Japan using the developed approach. We identified the distribution of bluegill haplotypes and succeeded in estimating its origin and dispersal, which were consistent with previous studies. We believe that the proposed eDNA-based approach holds great potential for estimating the dispersal of invasive species and is therefore useful for their management.