Development, validation, and evaluation of an assay for the detection of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) in environmental DNA

We developed and describe a qPCR assay for the detection of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. A single primer set was designed to amplify a 115-bp region of the wood frog cytochrome B gene and assessed for target specificity. There was no evidence of amplification in 11 non-target species. We evaluated the utility of the primer set in qPCR assay by conducting geo-referenced eDNA field surveys in Interior Alaska. Results indicate that the assay consistently detects wood frog DNA in the environment to 1.83 × 10−3 pg/μL. The assay provides a complement to traditional survey methods and can be readily applied in a wider conservation and management context.