Identifying spawning activity in aquatic species based on environmental DNA spikes
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Abstract
An understanding of the reproductive biology of aquatic organisms is crucial for the efficient conservation and management of species and/or populations. Nevertheless, conventional spawning surveys such as visual- and capture-based monitoring generally require laborious, time-consuming work and are subject to monitoring biases such as observer bias, as well as miscounts due to false spawning. In addition, direct capture often damages eggs or individuals. Thus, an efficient non-invasive approach for monitoring spawning activity on aquatic species would be a valuable tool to understand their reproductive biology and conserving biodiversity. Here, we proposed an environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach for monitoring and understanding spawning activity by observing spikes in eDNA concentration after spawning activity. We found in cross experiments using two medaka species ( Oryzias latipes and O. sakaizumii , 1:1 individual per tank) that an eDNA spike occurred in only male species after spawning activity. In addition, the magnitude of the eDNA spike was dependent on the number of spawning activities with egg and sperm release. In the field survey during the reproductive season, eDNA concentration after spawning were 3–25 times higher than before spawning. On the other hand, there was no increase in eDNA concentration during the non-reproductive season. Therefore, our results demonstrated that spikes in the eDNA concentration are mainly caused by the release of sperm during spawning activity, and it can be used as evidence of spawning in field survey. The presented approach could be a practical tool for studying reproductive biology and provides an opportunity to design effective conservation and environmental management actions.
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This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/5841733.
This is an interesting subject of research. Indeed the authors are assessing spawning activity in aquatic species based on environmental DNA which is a non-invasive methodological approach of research for monitoring spawning activity on aquatic species. They studied on two medaka species (Oryzias latipes and O. sakaizumii, in cross experiments and under laboratory conditions. They proposed an environmental DNA approach for monitoring and understanding spawning activity in fish. Their results are suggestive that an eDNA spike occurred in only male species after spawning activity AND THAT the magnitude of the eDNA spike was dependent on the number of spawning activities. They also …
This Zenodo record is a permanently preserved version of a PREreview. You can view the complete PREreview at https://prereview.org/reviews/5841733.
This is an interesting subject of research. Indeed the authors are assessing spawning activity in aquatic species based on environmental DNA which is a non-invasive methodological approach of research for monitoring spawning activity on aquatic species. They studied on two medaka species (Oryzias latipes and O. sakaizumii, in cross experiments and under laboratory conditions. They proposed an environmental DNA approach for monitoring and understanding spawning activity in fish. Their results are suggestive that an eDNA spike occurred in only male species after spawning activity AND THAT the magnitude of the eDNA spike was dependent on the number of spawning activities. They also demonstrated that spikes in the eDNA concentration are mainly caused by the release of sperm during spawning activity, and it can be used as evidence of spawning in field survey. Although the whole experimental design seems clear and straightforward, I would suggest that care should be taken intro account when interpreting laboratory -based finding into filed results. It would be also interesting to extend the discussion part about whether stress related behavioural responses or eDNA concentrations could be related to daily activities and also does personality may matter at all? In terms of data reproducibility it would be also helpful if the author provide the data accessible on online repository services for further post research examination by other researchers.
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