Method comparison for the detection of environmental DNA from three species of unionid mussels in a mesocosm

Data describe a mesocosm study for the detection of mucket (Ortmanniana ligamentina), fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea), and giant floater (Pyganodon grandis) freshwater mussel environmental DNA (eDNA). Water samples were collected on two different days in September of 2022 from a CERC pond containing O. ligamentina, L. siliquoidea, and P. grandis then analyzed for the presence of eDNA. Three different collection methods were performed: (1) 50 milliliter samples which were centrifuged, decanted, and concentrated pellet suspended for analysis; (2) 1.0 um mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membranes were used to filter sample material; and (3), 1.2 um polyethersulfone (PES) membranes were used to filter sample material. Parameters described in this data release include qPCR results and associated quality assurance measurements from the mesocosm water samples.