Project Description

Project Context :

Lakes and ponds are regularly colonized by invasive alien species that create numerous environmental and socio-economic problems. Monitoring these species and their dynamics is important in order to better define management strategies. However, tracking the biomass of these species is often complex and, above all, time-consuming, particularly for aquatic plants.

Project Objectives :

The objectives of this project are to test the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to quantify the biomass of aquatic plants in lakes, using two macrophyte species as models: Lagarosiphon major and Egeria densa. First, the genetic diversity of these species will be assessed in order to select the most appropriate quantification method. Then, the study will (i) test the detectability of DNA in water, (ii) determine the filtration volume required for quantification, and (iii) evaluate the influence of sampling location (distance from the plant beds) on quantification.

Project Results

- assessment of the genetic diversity of the species along the Aquitaine coast - identification of suitable genetic markers - quantification of environmental DNA - determination of the appropriate filtration volume - measurement of the influence of spatial variability

To go further

Contact : aurelien.jamoneau[at]inrae.fr