Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Using eDNA Technology to Detect Amphibians in Yosemite National Park

Project ID: P15AC01599

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: Washington State University

Fiscal Year: 2015

Initial Funding: $10,500

Total Funding: $10,500

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

National Park: Yosemite National Park

Principal Investigator: Goldberg, Caren

Agreement Technical Representative: Stock, Sara

Abstract: This is a collaboration between Washington State University (WSU) and the National Park Service (NPS) to support efforts to conserve rare amphibian species and maintain intact healthy aquatic ecosystems at Yosemite National Park (YOSE). Many amphibians are cryptic, making them difficult to detect during traditional visual encounter surveys. In addition, when populations are small, detecting amphibians visually becomes even more challenging. New technology, known as environmental DNA (eDNA) can be effective at reliably detecting aquatic amphibian species by isolating their DNA from environmental water samples. This project will utilize this new method to sample aquatic sites for the presence of both native and invasive amphibian species at several sites within YOSE. Expected products include annual reports and a final report summarizing the project findings.

Deliverables: