An Optimized Environmental DNA Method to Improve Detectability of the Endangered Sichuan Taimen (Hucho bleekeri)

Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques have emerged as a cost-effective and non-invasive strategy for monitoring the distribution of endangered aquatic species. Despite their numerous advantages, operational uncertainty at each step process represents significant challenge that can impact reliability results. Hence, optimization eDNA analytic protocol is utmost importance. In this study, rare fish species Sichuan taimen was chosen target to evaluate concordance between different approaches (tissue, pond, field water samples) detection. The results showed membrane filtration, collection 2-L sample, utilization DNeasy Tissue Blood extraction kit were suitable analysis in samples. Furthermore, mtDNA D-loop region demonstrated potential specific molecular marker precise identification taimen. Our indicated TaqMan fluorescence PCR serve optimal detection method reliable even extremely low concentrations field. This study established an optimized detection, which will provide basis future resource investigations aimed protection