Development and validation of an environmental DNA protocol to detect an invasive Caribbean freshwater fish, the guppy ( Poecilia reticulata )

We describe the development and validation of a qPCR assay to detect Poecilia reticulata, highly invasive species freshwater fish Caribbean islands, through environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. Originating from Trinidad, this is detrimental countless native tropical communities. A assay, consisting set primers fluorescent probe, amplifying 214 base pair target region mitochondrial Cytochrome B gene was designed for P. reticulata existing sequence data. The assessed specificity, with no evidence amplification in closely related or sympatrically distributed non-target species. In vitro tests indicate that consistently detects down concentrations 2.0 × 10−5 ng/μl. developed provides new, practical tool monitoring habitats throughout Caribbean, allowing early rapid detection conservation concern.