USGS environmental DNA research sheds light on invasive species
March 15, 2022
Research by the U.S. Geological Survey is leading to new techniques in the use of environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect invasive species and their spread. U.S. Geological Survey scientists are working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue developing eDNA research in support of the needs of natural resource managers. Scientists with the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in LaCrosse, WI, and the Columbia Environmental Research Center in Columbia, MO, are also working to develop tools to guide sampling design and estimate detection probability, allowing USGS to provide better context for interpreting results when working with land managers.