Environmental DNA sampling as a tool for monitoring freshwater vertebrates

Abstract

To monitor biodiversity effectively, accurate and sensitive detection methods that can be implemented over large spatial scales are required. It has been demonstrated that environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can be a valid alternative to many traditional sampling methods. This thesis explored the data and conclusions which could be drawn from eDNA sampling regimes across large spatial scales for individual species and communities, answering key questions on species occupancy and detection method sensitivity. Adaptations of site occupancy-detection models (SODM) are used throughout. First, I investigated the relative sensitivity of single- and multi-species detection methods using a consistent..