Using occupancy modeling to compare environmental DNA to traditional field methods for regional-scale monitoring of an endangered aquatic species

Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring approaches promise to greatly improve detection of rare, endangered, and invasive species in comparison to traditional field approaches. Herein, eDNA approaches and traditional seining methods were applied at 29 research locations to compare method-specific estimates of detection and occupancy probabilities for endangered tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi). At each location multiple paired seine hauls and water samples for eDNA analysis were taken, ranging from two to 23 samples per site, depending upon habitat size. Analysis using a multi-method occupancy modeling framework indicated that the probability of detection using eDNA was nearly double (0.74) the rate of detection for seining (0.39). The higher detection rates afforded by eDNA allowed determination of tidewater goby occupancy at two locations where they have not been previously detected and at one location considered to be locally extirpated. Additionally, eDNA concentration was posit...环境DNA（eDNA）监测方法相较传统野外监测手段，有望显著提升对稀有、濒危及入侵物种的检出效能。本研究在29个调查点位同时应用eDNA监测方法与传统围网采样法，以对比濒危物种潮滨虾虎鱼（Eucyclogobius newberryi）的两种方法专属检出率与占用概率估算值。每个调查点位均采集多组配对的围网拖网样品与用于eDNA分析的水样，采样数量依生境规模从2份至23份不等。采用多方法占用模型框架开展分析后结果显示，eDNA方法的检出概率（0.74）几乎为围网采样法（0.39）的两倍。得益于eDNA更高的检出率，本研究在两个此前未检出潮滨虾虎鱼的点位，以及一个被认为已局部灭绝的点位，均确认了该物种的占用情况。此外，eDNA浓度呈正...