Optimal survey designs for environmental DNA sampling

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is a promising tool for monitoring cryptic species. Numerous studies have demonstrated that eDNA sampling can achieve higher detection rates than traditional monitoring techniques, such as trapping; however, the consequences of that sensitivity for survey design requirements and resulting survey costs have not been investigated. We demonstrate how site occupancy detection models and optimal survey design methods can be used to evaluate the cost-efficiency of eDNA sampling vs. traditional survey methods. We apply these approaches to two datasets—one in which eDNA sampling and trapping were conducted simultaneously (paired dataset), and another in which sampli..