Quentin Mauvisseau

• Driessche, Charlotte Van; Everts, Teun; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Neyrinck, Sabrina; Beer, Berdien De & Halfmaerten, David [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2026). Enabling Quantitative eDNA Monitoring in Lotic Ecosystems by Incorporating Hydrological Characteristics and Allometric Scaling. Freshwater Biology. ISSN 0046-5070. 71(9), p. 1–20. doi: 10.1111/fwb.70308. Full text in Research Archive
• Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Heng; Akashi, Hiroshi; Albouy, Camille P.; Andres, Kara J. & Barquín, José [Show all 50 contributors for this article] (2026). A unified analysis of global riverine eDNA reveals common associations of fish biodiversity with drainage characteristics. Nature Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.1038/s41559-026-03106-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Freshwater biodiversity is declining at a pace that outstrips the capacity of existing monitoring approaches both in temporal and spatial dimensions, highlighting the urgent need for rapid and scalable assessment and attribution of biodiversity states and changes. Here we present a global assessment and unified analysis of riverine fish biodiversity using environmental DNA collected from 1,818 sites across 113 river systems spanning 5 continents. We quantified species richness, functional redundancy, phylogenetic diversity and genetic sequence diversity, and related them to drainage characteristics. Our results showed that environmental DNA effectively captured global patterns of multi-faceted riverine fish biodiversity and disentangled the roles of climate and different aspects of human activities in shaping biodiversity–area relationships. The accumulation of biodiversity with catchment area was consistently enhanced in warmer climates, while human activities weakened this scaling. Further, species richness, functional and genetic sequence diversity exhibited stronger negative responses to human activities in larger catchments. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity was negatively affected by human activities, yet this effect diminished as catchment area increased, highlighting the facet-dependent nature of biodiversity responses to environmental gradients and catchment characteristics. Our findings demonstrate the power of environmental-DNA-based datasets for harmonized, multi-faceted biodiversity assessments, offering a scalable approach for detecting and attributing biodiversity change and informing conservation strategies under accelerating global change.

• Heuvel-Greve, Martine J. van den; Polling, Marcel; Groot, G. Arjen de; Kodde, Linda; Mulder, Ingeborg M. & Verdaat, Hans [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Tracking biodiversity in changing Arctic waters: insights from eDNA metabarcoding in Svalbard. Polar Biology. ISSN 0722-4060. 49. doi: 10.1007/s00300-026-03488-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Monitoring biodiversity patterns and their changes in Arctic coastal ecosystems is critical under ongoing climate change. However, common current approaches require high effort and expertise and this in turn limits the spatial and temporal scale of these monitoring efforts. Here, we investigated both the fish and the marine invertebrate communities across Svalbard using a multi-marker environmental DNA metabarcoding approach. We collected and analysed marine water, sediment and zooplankton filtered from marine water from sites influenced by the warm West Spitsbergen Current and the cold East Spitsbergen Current. Following metabarcoding amplification using mitochondrial COI, 12S, 16S and nuclear 18S markers and high-throughput sequencing, we retrieved an extensive overview of Svalbard marine biodiversity. Water, sediment and especially zooplankton samples collected across Svalbard revealed spatial differences in community composition, with significantly distinct assemblages in the northwest and southeast of Svalbard. We identified potential bioindicator species for use in rapid assessment of impacts of marine temperature increase and confirmed observed patterns of ongoing shifts in community structure as a response to changes in dominant water masses. Overall, our findings show that species composition depending on fine-scale climate variation of Arctic waters can be effectively studied and monitored using environmental DNA. These insights can help us understand current and evolving climate-driven changes.

• Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Heng; Akashi, Hiroshi; Albouy, Camille P.; Andres, Kara J. & Barquín, José [Show all 50 contributors for this article] (2026). Integrated Reanalysis of Global Riverine Fish eDNA Datasets Shows Robustness and Congruence of Biodiversity Conclusions. Molecular Ecology. ISSN 0962-1083. 35(8), p. 1–16. doi: 10.1111/mec.70340. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized biodiversity assessments in aquatic ecosystems, enabling non‐invasive monitoring of fish communities across diverse regions. However, the global comparability of these eDNA datasets remains ambiguous due to heterogeneous sampling protocols and bioinformatic workflows across studies, making it difficult to assess how robust and comparable the biodiversity patterns inferred from these datasets actually are. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 58 riverine fish eDNA metabarcoding studies, covering 1818 sampling sites worldwide, to evaluate the robustness of eDNA‐derived biodiversity patterns. We found that species richness estimates and metrics of community structure derived under a common bioinformatic workflow were overall consistent with those of original analyses, despite the relatively high variability in bioinformatic analyses in the respective original studies. Contrastingly, congruence of species identity varied more extensively across datasets, mostly reflecting different completeness and regional relevance of reference databases. Restricting taxonomic assignment to basin‐specific species pools improved species identification accuracy, while datasets lacking publicly accessible or well‐curated reference data were more prone to mismatches. Year of sampling had a positive effect on taxonomic congruence, such that more recent studies showed increased robustness, also reflecting improved reference database coverage and enhanced species‐level identification over time and overall method congruence in more recent years. Overall, the suitability and potential of eDNA for global biodiversity monitoring is corroborating overall robust biodiversity estimates, irrespective of the bioinformatic approaches. Our study underlines the effectiveness and need for further harmonization of bioinformatic workflows and strengthened region‐specific reference databases for improved taxonomic resolution and comparability across studies.

• Vardakas, Leonidas; Kapakos, Yiannis; Leris, Ioannis; Koutsikos, Nicholas; Kouraklis, Petros & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2026). Urban aquatic habitats as refugia for threatened freshwater fish: Insights from the Corfu killifish. Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 7(1). doi: 10.1002/2688-8319.70228. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Freshwater biodiversity is under immense pressure globally, with invasive species among the primary drivers of extinction risk. We tested whether urban aquatic habitats can serve as refugia for threatened freshwater fish from invasive species' pressure, focussing on the translocation of a critically endangered killifish (Corfu killifish, Valencia letourneuxi ) to a spring‐fed peri‐urban pond in northwestern Greece. Urban habitat suitability was assessed using the REVIVE‐POLIS feasibility analysis tool, which incorporates conventional ecological criteria (water and biological quality, species‐specific habitat requirements, and invasive species pressure) alongside urban‐specific criteria including hydrological stability, food web structure and surrounding land use. The tool supported the suitability of the release site and indicated its utility in urban conservation planning. The translocation involved a two‐stage transfer of a total of 84 adult killifish spawners into the recipient pond across 2021 and 2022, corresponding to an estimated introduction density of 1.12 translocated inds m −2 . Post‐release monitoring in 2022 utilizing electrofishing confirmed establishment at the release site (density 0.83 inds m −2 ), as evidenced by the presence of larvae and juveniles. Subsequent monitoring in 2024 and 2025 using underwater cameras recorded cohorts of approximately 30 individuals (density 0.71 inds m −2 ). These spanned multiple age classes on both occasions, suggesting persistence and recruitment for ≥3 years after the initial release. As a single‐site case study, these findings should be interpreted cautiously; nevertheless, they indicate that carefully selected and managed urban aquatic refugia may complement conventional approaches for threatened fishes exposed to invasive species, provided key constraints (biosecurity, habitat area and long‐term viability) are addressed. Practical implication . This study delivers a user‐ready feasibility assessment tool that helps practitioners identify urban aquatic habitats suitable as refugia for threatened fish, provides methodological guidance for designing, implementing, and monitoring threatened‐fish translocations, and shows that where invasive‐species eradication is unfeasible, well‐managed urban refugia can complement or in some contexts, substitute for conventional in situ translocations.

• Jeunen, Gert‐Jan; Mills, Sadie; Bailie, Marc; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Lamare, Miles & Mariani, Stefano [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Recovering Historical eDNA From Museum-Preserved Filter Feeders via Non-Destructive Metabarcoding. Molecular Ecology Resources. ISSN 1755-098X. 26(3). doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.70132. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Recent technical advances have significantly enhanced the value of museum specimens for molecular research, with metagenomic and metabarcoding approaches expanding further the utility of museum collections. However, given the finite number of specimens, there is a critical need to move past destructive DNA extraction approaches and to explore non‐destructive techniques. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we evaluated the feasibility of extracting historical eDNA from the ethanol preservative used to store museum specimens. We compared a variety of extraction methods (centrifugation, evaporation, filtration, and precipitation) using ten replicate samples per treatment for statistical analyses. To assess potential differences in preservative‐derived eDNA recovery across different filter‐feeding taxonomic groups, we included a bryozoan, a demosponge, and a glass sponge. Comparative analyses with tissue biopsies revealed that 10 mL ethanol filtration performed equal to or, in some instances, outperformed tissue biopsies for all three specimens when examining the historical eDNA of Antarctic fish using a 16S rRNA metabarcoding approach, both for the number of species detected (α‐diversity) and community characterisation (β‐diversity). This initial study demonstrates the potential of ethanol preservative as a valuable, non‐destructive source of historical eDNA from museum‐stored filter‐feeding specimens. These findings highlight the viability of non‐destructive sampling for molecular research on museum collections, preserving specimen integrity while enabling biodiversity assessments. Further refinement of non‐destructive eDNA extraction could expand its applicability across taxa, collection types, and preservation methods, ensuring the long‐term sustainability of museum‐based genomic, metagenomic, and metabarcoding research.

• Gross, Megan; Stoeck, Thorsten; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun & Dunthorn, Micah (2025). Comparing the precision of two digital PCR applications for copy number comparisons in protists. Scientific Reports. 15(1), p. 1–12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13143-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Microorganisms play key roles in ecosystem functioning, making reliable methods for assessing their dynamics essential. Advances in molecular technologies now enable their quantification in environmental samples based on DNA marker genes. Among these, digital PCR has emerged as a powerful tool for detecting and quantifying organisms based on their gene copies, with numerous platforms that are currently available. However, these platforms differ in their underlying technologies, and comparative studies that evaluate the performance and reproducibility remain limited. Here we compared different platform parameters across the QX200 digital droplet PCR from Bio-Rad and the QIAcuity One nanoplate-based digital PCR from QIAGEN. We used synthetic oligonucleotides and DNA extracted from varying cell numbers of the ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia and additionally tested the impact of two restriction enzymes on gene copy number quantification. Both platforms demonstrated similar detection and quantification limits and yielded high precision across most analyses. We found a general tendency of higher precision using the HaeIII restriction enzyme instead of EcoRI, especially for the QX200 system. Gene copy number estimates from ciliate DNA were reproducible between platforms and showed a linear trend for an increasing number of cells for both platforms. These findings highlight the importance of cross-platform evaluations to ensure robust and reproducible gene copy number analysis in unicellular eukaryotes and support a potential broader application of digital PCR in environmental monitoring studies.

• Cei, Aisha Carolina; Silva, Dalila Costa; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Sviggum, Silvana Melo; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa & Martins, Rasna Figueiredo [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2025). Invasive giant river prawns as opportunistic, generalist predators in the Amazon Delta: Insights from metabarcoding. Ecosphere. 16(11). doi: 10.1002/ecs2.70439. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Invasive species alter habitats and biological communities. The giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man 1879) was introduced to Brazil for aquaculture, and invasive populations have established in the Amazon Delta region where they are believed to pose a risk to the native aquatic fauna. To assess potential impacts, we performed dietary metabarcoding using generalist COI primers on 105 stomach contents collected from prawns from the southern Amazon Delta. Overall, M. rosenbergii presents an opportunistic and generalist diet that reflects the dominant aquatic and terrestrial fauna of the region, including the orders Diptera, Characiformes, and Lepidoptera as dominant dietary items in terms of both frequency of occurrence and richness. One unidentified congeneric species was identified in the diet, indicating the potential for negative effects on the native prawn fauna. Additionally, while there is a general overlap in the diet for all categories of sex and reproductive phase, smaller immature individuals and molted females showed reduced diversity in their diet, suggesting limitations in prey handling or access. We conclude that dietary metabarcoding of opportunistic generalists and/or detritivores appears to be a potentially useful tool for monitoring biodiversity as well as understanding their role in the food web.

• Rodrigues, Alan Érik S.; Brito, Rafaela Maria S.; Charvet, Patricia; Faria, Vicente V.; Cabanillas-Torpoco, Mariano & Aleixo, Alexandre [Show all 16 contributors for this article] (2025). Geographical variation in mitogenomes of the largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis: Challenges and perspectives for conservation efforts. Global Ecology and Conservation. 62. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03757. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Sawfishes (Pristidae) have been severely impacted by coastal development and unregulated fisheries and are considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses have shown potential for monitoring elasmobranch species, with various studies focusing on using species-specific approaches to detect Pristis species. However positive detection using existing probes has not been confirmed in some geographic regions where they would be expected. Here, we aimed to verify the phylogenetic relationships within the Pristidae family, with a particular focus on P. pristis (Linnaeus, 1758) to test whether mutations at key sites have been detrimental to species-specific detection of P. pristis using the existing probe set. To test this hypothesis mitogenomes were assembled that were found to follow the typical pattern of vertebrate mitogenomic organization. Phylogenetic trees showed similar topologies and confirmed geographic mitochondrial variation in P. pristis. Mismatches for the published 12S species-specific probe set for P. pristis were identified that prevent amplification of positive control samples from Brazil. However, ddPCR detection of the positive control was possible using a newly designed species-specific probe set. This study highlights how geographical variation can severely impact the success of generally applying species-specific detection systems developed based on data from only one geographical region. The new mitogenomes and species-specific probe set developed here may also contribute to improving the potential to map and monitor these Critically Endangered species across the globe.

• Bagdonaite, Laima; Leder, Erica Helen; Lifjeld, Jan Terje; Johnsen, Arild & Mauvisseau, Quentin (2025). Assessing reliability and accuracy of qPCR, dPCR and ddPCR for estimating mitochondrial DNA copy number in songbird blood and sperm cells. PeerJ. 13. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19278. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number varies across species, individuals, and cell types. In birds, there are two types of cells with a relatively low number of mitochondria: red blood cells and spermatozoa. Previous studies investigating variation of mitochondrial abundance in animal sperm have generally used quantitative PCR (qPCR), but this method shows potential limitations when quantifying targets at low abundance. To mitigate such issues, we investigated and compared the reliability and accuracy of qPCR, digital PCR (dPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to quantify high and low concentration DNA. We used synthetic DNA targets, to calculate the limit of detection and the limit of quantification and found that with both dPCR and ddPCR, these limits were lower than with qPCR. Then, to compare quantification accuracy and repeatability, we used DNA extracted from blood and sperm cells of Eurasian siskin. We found that qPCR, dPCR and ddPCR all reliably quantified mitochondrial DNA in sperm samples but showed significant differences when analyzing the typically lower levels of mtDNA in blood, with ddPCR consistently showing lower variation among replicates. Our study provides critical insights and recommendations for future studies aiming to quantify target mtDNA and indicates that dPCR and ddPCR are the preferred methods when working with samples with low abundance of mtDNA.

• Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Sviggum, Silvana Melo & Ready, Jonathan Stuart [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). eDNA Replicates, Polymerase and Amplicon Size Impact Inference of Richness Across Habitats. Environmental DNA. 7(3). doi: 10.1002/edn3.70095. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Environmental DNA-based monitoring has been increasingly used in the last decade to monitor biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Molecular-based surveys now allow quick and reliable production of baseline knowledge of species community composition on a large scale, allowing a better understanding of ecosystem function and mitigation of stressors linked to anthropogenic activities. Despite this, technical hurdles often remain, and the impact of replicates, PCR polymerases, and amplicon size on the recovered species richness is still poorly understood. Here, we conducted a large controlled experiment, with bulk samples collected from terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments to assess the impact of natural and technical replicates, PCR polymerases with different degrees of fidelity or proofreading activity, as well as amplicon size on species richness recovery across habitats. In this study, we consistently found variations in sample species richness depending on PCR polymerase choice. We further demonstrate the dissimilar impacts between natural and technical replicates on species richness recovery and the necessity of increasing natural replications in eDNA-based surveys. We highlight the benefits and limitations of replication strategies, polymerase choice, and amplicon size across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater habitats, and provide recommendations to increase the reliability of future eDNA-based metabarcoding studies.

• Mahlangu, Sibusiso; Ewers, Isabelle; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Dunthorn, Micah & Karlsen, Hans Erik [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Investigating the dynamics of the aquatic community in Oslofjord through time series analysis of eDNA. Journal of Fish Biology. ISSN 0022-1112. doi: 10.1111/jfb.70105. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Understanding the temporal dynamics of marine communities is critical for assessing ecosystem health and guiding conservation efforts. Here, we conducted a survey using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding with two primer sets, MiFish and Elas02, to investigate seasonal and interannual changes in the fish community of Oslofjord (Norway) over two consecutive years. Using the MitoFish reference database through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility querying tool, we identified 63 fish species and found significant changes in the dominant taxa between seasons and years. Clupea harengus (Atlantic herring) consistently peaked in early spring, while Scomber scombrus (Atlantic mackerel) dominated winter months in the second year. The MiFish primer set showed increased species richness in the second year, whereas the Elas02 primer set showed stable richness despite compositional turnover. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed distinct community separation between years in presence/absence of data, driven by species turnover rather than abundance read changes. Our findings support the use of eDNA metabarcoding to capture fine-scale (bi-monthly) temporal dynamics and emphasise the importance of multi-year datasets for distinguishing ecological trends from stochastic changes. This strategy improves monitoring practices for marine ecosystems under anthropogenic stressors.

• Bagdonaite, Laima; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Johnsen, Arild; Lifjeld, Jan Terje & Leder, Erica Helen (2025). Sperm mtDNA Copy Number Is Not Associated With Midpiece Size Among Songbirds. Ecology and Evolution. 15(3). doi: 10.1002/ece3.71055. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Tremendous variation in sperm morphology is observed across the animal kingdom. Within avian taxa, the songbirds (infraorder Passerides) have the largest variation in sperm morphology. Their spermatozoa move by using energy generated in the midpiece, which is formed by multiple mitochondria fusing together during spermatogenesis. However, very little is known regarding the number of mitochondria required to form the songbird midpiece. Based on previous research showing an association of midpiece length and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, we hypothesize that songbird species with longer sperm midpieces have more copies of mtDNA. We estimated the sperm mtDNA copy number in 19 species from 10 families within Passerides, covering a broad range of midpiece sizes. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA abundance were determined using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and the ratio between mitochondrial and single-copy nuclear genes was used to estimate mtDNA copy number per spermatozoon. We found that species differ in their average mtDNA copy number, but the variation was small and not significantly related to midpiece length. A possible explanation is that mitochondrial genomes are eliminated in the spermatids during spermatogenesis.

• Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Queiroz, Anna Karolina Oliveira de; Ferreira, Silva Derlan Jose; Barreto, Silvia Britto & Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). From Nets to Molecules: A Comparative Study of Stream Fish Diversity Recovery Using Different Sampling Methods in Eastern Amazonia. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.02.631091. Full text in Research Archive
• Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Gromstad, William Esbjug; Dunthorn, Micah; Karlsen, Hans Erik; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun & Ready, Jonathan Stuart [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Harnessing eDNA metabarcoding to investigate fish community composition and its seasonal changes in the Oslo fjord. Scientific Reports. 14(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60762-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In the face of global ecosystem changes driven by anthropogenic activities, effective biomonitoring strategies are crucial for mitigating impacts on vulnerable aquatic habitats. Time series analysis underscores a great significance in understanding the dynamic nature of marine ecosystems, especially amidst climate change disrupting established seasonal patterns. Focusing on Norway's Oslo fjord, our research utilises eDNA-based monitoring for temporal analysis of aquatic biodiversity during a one year period, with bi-monthly sampling along a transect. To increase the robustness of the study, a taxonomic assignment comparing BLAST+ and SINTAX approaches was done. Utilising MiFish and Elas02 primer sets, our study detected 63 unique fish species, including several commercially important species. Our findings reveal a substantial increase in read abundance during specific migratory cycles, highlighting the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for fish composition characterization. Seasonal dynamics for certain species exhibit clear patterns, emphasising the method's utility in unravelling ecological complexities. eDNA metabarcoding emerges as a cost-effective tool with considerable potential for fish community monitoring for conservation purposes in dynamic marine environments like the Oslo fjord, contributing valuable insights for informed management strategies.

• Jeunen, Gert-Jan; Fernandes, Kristen; Dowle, Eddy; Kroos, Gracie C; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Torma, Michal [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2024). tombRaider - improved species and haplotype recovery from metabarcoding data through artefact and pseudogene exclusion. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2024.08.23.609468. Full text in Research Archive
• Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Gasalla, Maria A.; Queiroz, Anna Karolina Oliveira de; Ribas, Talita Fernanda Augusto; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Boer, Hugo de [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Molecular analyses of carangid fish diets reveal inter-predation, dietary overlap, and the importance of early life stages in trophic ecology. Ecology and Evolution. 14(1). doi: 10.1002/ece3.10817. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Carangid fishes are commercially important in fisheries and aquaculture. They are distributed worldwide in both tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems. Their role in food webs is often unclear since their diet cannot be easily identified by traditional gut content analysis. They are suspected to prey on pelagic and benthic species, with clupeiform fishes being important dietary items for some species, though it is unknown whether carangids share food resources or show trophic segregation. Here, we used metabarcoding to overcome traditional challenges of taxonomic approaches to analyze the diet of seven carangid species caught as bycatch in the Brazilian southwest Atlantic sardine fishery. Stomach contents were processed from the following species: Caranx crysos, Caranx latus, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, Hemicaranx amblyrhynchus, Oligoplites saliens, Selene setapinnis, and Trachinotus carolinus. Identified diets were dominated by teleost fishes. The C. latus diet was the most distinct among the seven species, preferentially consuming Engraulis anchoita, but H. amblyrhynchus, O. saliens, and S. setapinnis also showed a trend of predominantly consuming small pelagic fishes. Finally, we found evidence of inter-predation in carangids, especially strong between S. setapinnis and C. crysos, suggesting that consumption of early life stages may result in indirect competition through reduced recruitment in these fishes. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the biodiversity in marine ecosystems, especially the poorly known diet of carangid fishes.

• Kalogianni, Eleni; Ioannis, Leris; Leonidas, Vardakas; Yiannis, Kapakos; Sofia, Laschou & Bommerlund, Julie [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Designing, implementing and monitoring the translocation of a highly threatened freshwater fish. Aquatic conservation. ISSN 1052-7613. 34(1). doi: 10.1002/aqc.4072. Full text in Research Archive
• Queiroz, Anna Karolina Oliveira de; Gasalla, Maria A.; Laux, Marcele; Oliveira, Renato Renison Moreira; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa & Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Dietary metabarcoding of keystone sardine species reveals the importance of their ichthyoplankton prey in food webs of the Southern Brazilian Bight fisheries. Fisheries Oceanography. ISSN 1054-6006. doi: 10.1111/fog.12668. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Clupeiform fishes are ecologically and economically important species contributing to industrial and artisanal fisheries worldwide. They represent key links in food webs, influencing the dynamic between trophic levels. The dietary interactions of these species are poorly studied in many regions, yet essential for fisheries management. To elucidate the role of these species in food webs of the Southern Brazilian Bight pelagic fisheries, we used metabarcoding analysis of fish stomach contents of Clupeiformes and possible predators. Onboard sampling from March to September 2016 allowed for processing of 87 stomach samples representing 31 species (including 12 samples representing three species of Clupeiformes). Links between trophic levels showed the predominance of Sardinella brasiliensis and Engraulis anchoita as important dietary items of a large range of fishes (28 species belonging to 18 families) and representing the majority of the total prey read abundance assigned to clupeiform fishes (~46% and ~32%, respectively). Opisthonema oglinum contributed to the diet of 16 species in 13 families and ~18% of total read abundance of clupeiform fishes as prey. The appearance of multiple clupeiform taxa in the diet of predators that are not commonly associated with pelagic prey indicates that ecosystem-based fisheries management should not be separated between pelagic and demersal fisheries. The diet of Clupeiformes revealed an unexpectedly large diversity of fish species and a low proportion of invertebrates (<5% of clupeiform prey reads). This was likely due to a combination of both a limitation of the metabarcoding method (primer bias and low success of invertebrate taxonomic identification) as well as a contribution of early life stages (ichthyoplankton) to the diet of these fishes. The potential role of clupeiform fish populations as a constraint to the recruitment from the ichthyoplanktonic phase of other ecologically or commercially important fishes should be considered as an important direction for future studies.

• Gross, Megan; Dunthorn, Micah; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Stoeck, Thorsten (2024). Using digital PCR to predict ciliate abundance from ribosomal RNA gene copy numbers. Environmental Microbiology. ISSN 1462-2912. 26(4). doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.16619. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Ciliates play a key role in most ecosystems. Their abundance in natural samples is crucial for answering many ecological questions. Traditional methods of quantifying individual species, which rely on microscopy, are often labour-intensive, time-consuming and can be highly biassed. As a result, we investigated the potential of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) for quantifying ciliates. A significant challenge in this process is the high variation in the copy number of the taxonomic marker gene (ribosomal RNA [rRNA]). We first quantified the rRNA gene copy numbers (GCN) of the model ciliate, Paramecium tetraurelia, during different stages of the cell cycle and growth phases. The per-cell rRNA GCN varied between approximately 11,000 and 130,000, averaging around 50,000 copies per cell. Despite these variations in per-cell rRNA GCN, we found a highly significant correlation between GCN and cell numbers. This is likely due to the coexistence of different cellular stages in an uncontrolled (environmental) ciliate population. Thanks to the high sensitivity of dPCR, we were able to detect the target gene in a sample that contained only a single cell. The dPCR approach presented here is a valuable addition to the molecular toolbox in protistan ecology. It may guide future studies in quantifying and monitoring the abundance of targeted (even rare) ciliates in natural samples.

• Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Pazirgiannidi, Melina; Ravelomanana, Tsilavina; Andriambelomanana, Fetra; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun & Ready, Jonathan Stuart [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2024). Multi-method survey rediscovers critically endangered species and strengthens Madagascar's freshwater fish conservation. Scientific Reports. 14(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71398-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for global biodiversity through supporting plant and animal species and providing essential resources. These ecosystems are under significant threat, particularly in island environments such as Madagascar. Our study focuses on the Amboaboa River basin, home to the rare and endemic fish species Rheocles derhami, last recorded in 2013. To assess the status of this and other threatened fish species including Ptychochromis insolitus and Paretroplus gymnopreopercularis, and to understand freshwater fish population dynamics in this biodiversity hotspot, we conducted a comprehensive survey using both environmental DNA (eDNA) and traditional fishing methods. While traditional methods effectively captured a diverse range of species, including several invasive aliens and the critically endangered endemic species that were the focus of this study, the eDNA approach detected only a fraction of these introduced species and struggled to identify some critically endangered endemics at the species level. This highlights the value of combining methods to enhance species detection. We also investigated the trade-offs associated with multi-primer assessments in eDNA analysis, focusing on three different primer combinations targeting the 12S mitochondrial gene: MiFish, Tele02, and Riaz. Additionally, we provided 12S reference barcodes for 10 species across 9 genera of fishes from the region to increase the coverage of the public reference databases. Overall, our study elucidates the current state of freshwater biodiversity in the Amboaboa River basin and underscores the value of employing multiple methods for effective conservation strategies.

• Salazar, Maria Ariza; Engelstad, Mari; Lieungh, Eva; Laux, Marcele; Ready, Jonathan & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Evaluating the feasibility of using plant-specific metabarcoding to assess forest types from soil eDNA. Applied Vegetation Science. ISSN 1402-2001. 27(4). doi: 10.1111/avsc.12806. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Questions An essential aspect of variation in natural systems is that species respond to complex environmental gradients. Recognizing plant composition gradients associated with abiotic factors (ecoclines) can be foundational for defining habitat types, which, in turn, helps map natural variation. Typically, ecoclinal structures are assessed through visual evaluation of above-ground vegetation and analysis of covarying abiotic factors. However, the correlation between ecological structures detected by soil eDNA plant assessments and those identified by visual assessment remains largely unexplored. Location Hvaler archipelago, southern Norway. Methods Plant diversity assessments were conducted using metabarcoding of the trnL (UUA) intron p6 loop and ITS2 from 31 soil samples collected across six forest types. These forest types span gradients related to drought risk and calcium richness. Results The barcode amplicons identified 70 plant taxa, primarily vascular plants (67), with most assigned to the species level (59), representing common forest taxa across the sites. Comparisons between soil eDNA compositions and theoretical forest-type compositions showed a low to medium correspondence (26% to 76%) between the two. Ordinations of soil eDNA compositions revealed two axes without clear ecological interpretation and correlated poorly with the calcium–richness gradient previously identified by visual assessments. Conclusions Overall, our results emphasize the necessity for comprehensive sequence reference libraries to conduct thorough plant biodiversity assessments. They also highlight the potential of soil eDNA to assess plant composition, which can aid in ecosystem mapping.

• Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Melo, Silvana & Ready, Jonathan Stuart [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). eDNA replicates, polymerase and amplicon size impact inference of richness across habitats. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.19.624235. Full text in Research Archive
• Mueck, Felicitas; Scotti, Francesca; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae; Wangensteen, Helle & Boer, Hugo de (2024). Three-tiered authentication of herbal traditional Chinese medicine ingredients used in women’s health provides progressive qualitative and quantitative insight. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 15. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1353434. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal products are increasingly used in Europe, but prevalent authentication methods have significant gaps in detection. In this study, three authentication methods were tested in a tiered approach to improve accuracy on a collection of 51 TCM plant ingredients obtained on the European market. We show the relative performance of conventional barcoding, metabarcoding and standardized chromatographic profiling for TCM ingredients used in one of the most diagnosed disease patterns in women, endometriosis. DNA barcoding using marker ITS2 and chromatographic profiling are methods of choice reported by regulatory authorities and relevant national pharmacopeias. HPTLC was shown to be a valuable authentication tool, combined with metabarcoding, which gives an increased resolution on species diversity, despite dealing with highly processed herbal ingredients. Conventional DNA barcoding as a recommended method was shown to be an insufficient tool for authentication of these samples, while DNA metabarcoding yields an insight into biological contaminants. We conclude that a tiered identification strategy can provide progressive qualitative and quantitative insight in an integrative approach for quality control of processed herbal ingredients.

• Bagdonaite, Laima; Leder, Erica Helen; Lifjeld, Jan Terje; Johnsen, Arild & Mauvisseau, Quentin (2024). Assessing reliability and accuracy of qPCR, dPCR and ddPCR for estimating mtDNA copy number in songbird blood and sperm cells. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2024.11.08.622696. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Mitochondrial DNA copy number varies across species, individuals and cell types. Two avian cell types carrying a relatively low number of mitochondria are the red blood cells and spermatozoa. While previous studies investigating variation of mitochondrial abundance in animal sperm have generally used quantitative PCR (qPCR), this method shows potential limitations when quantifying low abundant targets. To mitigate such issues, we investigated and compared the reliability and accuracy of qPCR, digital PCR (dPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to quantify high and low concentration DNA. Using synthetic DNA, we found that both dPCR and ddPCR displayed lower Limit of Detection and Limit of Quantification than qPCR. Using DNA extracted from blood and sperm cells of Eurasian Siskin, we found that qPCR, dPCR and ddPCR reliably quantified mitochondrial DNA in sperm samples, but showed significant differences when analyzing typically lower levels of mtDNA in blood. We found that ddPCR consistently showed lower variation among replicates. These analyses provide critical insights and recommendations for future studies aiming to quantify target mtDNA. Our study indicates that dPCR and ddPCR are the preferred methods when working with samples with low abundance of mtDNA.

• Bommerlund, Julie; Baars, Jan-Robert; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Brys, Rein; Mauvisseau, Christophe & Boer, Hugo de [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). eDNA-based detection as an early warning tool for detecting established and emerging invasive amphipods. Management of Biological Invasions. ISSN 1989-8649. 14(2), p. 321–333. doi: 10.3391/mbi.2023.14.2.09. Full text in Research Archive
• Baudry, Thomas; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Arqué, Alexandre; Goût, Jean-Pierre; Delaunay, Carine & Boer, Hugo de [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Environmental DNA survey to detect an endemic cryptic fish, Anablepsoides cryptocallus, in tropical freshwater streams. Aquatic conservation. ISSN 1052-7613. 33(3), p. 325–335. doi: 10.1002/aqc.3916. Full text in Research Archive
• Mueck, Felicitas; Scotti, Francesca; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Raclariu, Ancuta Cristina; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun & Wangensteen, Helle [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). Complementary authentication of Chinese herbal products to treat endometriosis using DNA metabarcoding and HPTLC shows a high level of variability. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 14. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1305410. Full text in Research Archive
• Raclariu-Manolică, Ancuţa Cristina; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Boer, Hugo de (2023). Horizon scan of DNA-based methods for quality control and monitoring of herbal preparations. Frontiers in Pharmacology. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1179099. Full text in Research Archive
• Raclariu, Ancuta Cristina; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Paranaiba, Renato; Boer, Hugo de & Socaciu, Carmen (2023). Authentication of milk thistle commercial products using UHPLC-QTOF-ESI + MS metabolomics and DNA metabarcoding. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 23(1). doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04091-9. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Milk thistle is one of the most popular hepatoprotectants, and is often sold in combination with other ingredients. Botanical supplements are known to be vulnerable to contamination and adulteration, and emerging technologies show promise to improve their quality control. Methods Untargeted and semi-targeted metabolomics based on UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS techniques, UV spectrometry, and DNA metabarcoding using Illumina MiSeq were used to authenticate eighteen milk thistle botanical formulations (teas, capsules, tablets, emulsion). Results Untargeted metabolomics separated 217 molecules and by multivariate analysis the discrimination between the different preparations was established. The semi-targeted metabolomics focused on 63 phytochemicals, mainly silymarin flavonolignans and flavonoids, that may be considered as putative biomarkers of authenticity. All formulations contained molecules from silymarin complexes at different levels. The quantitative evaluation of silybins was done using in parallel UV spectrometry and UHPLC-QTOF-ESI+MS and their correlations were compared. DNA metabarcoding detected milk thistle in eleven out of sixteen retained preparations, whereas two others had incomplete evidence of milk thistle despite metabolomics validating specific metabolites, e.g., silymarin complex, identified and quantified in all samples. Meanwhile, the DNA metabarcoding provided insights into the total species composition allowing the interpretation of the results in a broad context. Conclusion Our study emphasizes that combining spectroscopic, chromatographic, and genetic techniques bring complementary information to guarantee the quality of the botanical formulations.

• Burian, Alfred; Bruce, Kat; Tovela, E; Bakker, Judith; Balcells, Laia & Bennett, R [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2023). Merging two eDNA metabarcoding approaches and citizen-science-based sampling to facilitate fish community monitoring along vast Sub-Saharan coastlines. Molecular Ecology Resources. ISSN 1755-098X. 23(7), p. 1641–1655. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.13839. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract The coastline of Sub‐Saharan Africa hosts highly diverse fish communities of great conservation value, which are also key resources for local livelihoods. However, many costal ecosystems are threatened by overexploitation and their conservation state is frequently unknown due to their vast spatial extent and limited monitoring budgets. Here, we evaluated the potential of citizen science‐based eDNA surveys to alleviate such chronic data deficiencies and assessed fish communities in Mozambique using two 12S metabarcoding primer sets. Samples were either collected by scientific personnel or trained community members and results from the two metabarcoding primers were combined using a new data merging approach. Irrespective of the background of sampling personnel, a high average fish species richness was recorded (38 ± 20 OTUs per sample). Individual sections of the coastline largely differed in the occurrence of threatened and commercially important species, highlighting the need for regionally differentiated management strategies. A detailed comparison of the two applied primer sets revealed an important trade‐off in primer choice with MiFish primers amplifying a higher number of species but Riaz primers performing better in the detection of threatened fish species. This trade‐off could be partly resolved by applying our new data‐merging approach, which was especially designed to increase the robustness of multiprimer assessments in regions with poor reference libraries. Overall, our study provides encouraging results but also highlights that eDNA‐based monitoring will require further improvements of, for example, reference databases and local analytical infrastructure to facilitate routine applications in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Harper, Lynsey R.; Sander, Michael; Hanner, Robert H.; Kleyer, Hannah & Deiner, Kristy (2022). The Multiple States of Environmental DNA and What Is Known about Their Persistence in Aquatic Environments. Environmental Science and Technology. ISSN 0013-936X. 56(9), p. 5322–5333. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07638. Full text in Research Archive
• Salazar, Maria Ariza; Fouks, Bertrand; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Halvorsen, Rune; Alsos, Inger Greve & Boer, Hugo de (2022). Plant biodiversity assessment through soil eDNA reflects temporal and local diversity. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 14(2), p. 415–430. doi: 10.1111/2041-210X.13865. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  1. Several studies have shown the potential of eDNA-based proxies for plant identification, but little is known about their spatial and temporal resolution. This limits its use for plant biodiversity assessments and monitoring of vegetation responses to environmental changes. Here we calibrate the temporal and spatial plant signals detected with soil eDNA surveys by comparing with a standard visual above-ground vegetation survey.<p> <p>2. Our approach compares vegetation in an old-growth boreal forest in southern Norway, surveyed in 100 permanent 1-m2 plots seven times over a 30-year period, with a single soil eDNA metabarcoding-based survey from soil samples collected at the same 100 plots in the year of the last vegetation survey. <p>3. On average, 60% and 10% of the vascular plants and bryophytes recorded across all vegetation surveys were detected by soil eDNA. Taxa detected by soil eDNA were more representative for the local taxa pool than for the specific plot, and corresponded to those surveyed over the 30-year period although most closely matched the current taxa composition. Soil eDNA detected abundant taxa better than rare ones although both rare taxa and taxa unrecorded by the visual survey were detected. <p>4. Our study highlights the potential of soil eDNA assessments for monitoring of vegetation responses over broad spatial and temporal scales. The method's ability to detect abundant taxa makes it suitable for assessment of vegetation composition in a specific area and for broad-scale plant diversity assessments.

• Baudry, Thomas; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Goût, Jean-Pierre; Arqué, Alexandre; Delaunay, Carine & Smith-Ravin, Juliette [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Mapping a super-invader in a biodiversity hotspot, an eDNA-based success story. Ecological Indicators. ISSN 1470-160X. 126, p. 1–9. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107637. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean is known as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting many endemic species. However, recent introduction of a highly invasive species, the Australian redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), has led to significant threats to this fragile ecosystem. Here we developed, validated, and optimized a species-specific eDNA-based detection protocol targeting the 16S region of the mitochondrial gene of C. quadricarinatus. Our aim was to assess the crayfish distribution across Martinique Island. Our developed assay was species-specific and showed high sensitivity in laboratory, mesocosm and field conditions. A significant and positive correlation was found between species biomass, detection probability and efficiency through mesocosm experiments. Moreover, we found eDNA persisted up to 23 days in tropical freshwaters. We investigated a total of 83 locations, spread over 53 rivers and two closed water basins using our novel eDNA assay and traditional trapping, the latter, undertaken to confirm the reliability of the molecular-based detection method. Overall, we detected C. quadricarinatus at 47 locations using eDNA and 28 using traditional trapping, all positive trapping sites were positive for eDNA. We found that eDNA-based monitoring was less time-consuming and less influenced by the crayfishes often patchy distributions, proving a more reliable tool for future large-scale surveys. The clear threat and worrying distribution of this invasive species is particularly alarming as the archipelago belongs to one of the 25 identified biodiversity hotspots on Earth.

• Dubreuil, Thomas; Baudry, Thomas; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Arqué, Alexandre; Courty, Clarisse & Delaunay, Carine [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). The development of early monitoring tools to detect aquatic invasive species: eDNA assay development and the case of the armored catfish Hypostomus robinii. Environmental DNA. doi: 10.1002/edn3.260. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Introductions of invasive non-native species (and their subsequent impacts) are recognized as a major threat to native flora and fauna. This is especially true in island ecosystems such as the tropical island of Martinique. In 2018, one such aquatic invasive species, the suckermouth catfish Hypostomus robinii (Loricariidae), was reported for the first time in two of the islands rivers. H. robinii is a popular freshwater aquarium fish and native to tropical and sub-tropical South America. Since its initial discovery, a growing number of populations have been found, suggesting a larger distribution of this species through Martinique's hydrographic network. Here, we developed a novel survey technique (utilizing environmental DNA) and conducted a widespread survey across the island to assess the distribution of this invasive species. We were able to detect H. robinii in 22% of sites surveyed (18 out of 83) via our eDNA-based assay. The presence of these fish was confirmed using traditional trapping at 14 of these sites. Additionally, we used occupancy modeling to investigate the impact of different environmental covariates on the detection efficiency of the novel assay and the potential impacts of false positives and negatives. We highlight a decrease in the detection probability when water volume filtered increases. That said, the eDNA-based method proves a useful tool for the detection of this invasive fish species and monitoring its spread for management purposes.

• Burian, Alfred; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Bulling, Mark; Domisch, Sami; Qian, Song & Sweet, Michael (2021). Improving the reliability of eDNA data interpretation. Molecular Ecology Resources. ISSN 1755-098X. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.13367. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Global declines in biodiversity highlight the need to effectively monitor the density and distribution of threatened species. In recent years, molecular survey methods detecting DNA released by target-species into their environment (eDNA) have been rapidly on the rise. Despite providing new, cost-effective tools for conservation, eDNA-based methods are prone to errors. Best field and laboratory practices can mitigate some, but the risks of errors cannot be eliminated and need to be accounted for. Here, we synthesize recent advances in data processing tools that increase the reliability of interpretations drawn from eDNA data. We review advances in occupancy models to consider spatial data-structures and simultaneously assess rates of false positive and negative results. Further, we introduce process-based models and the integration of metabarcoding data as complementing approaches to increase the reliability of target-species assessments. These tools will be most effective when capitalizing on multi-source data sets collating eDNA with classical survey and citizen-science approaches, paving the way for more robust decision-making processes in conservation planning.

• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Halfmaerten, David; Neyrinck, Sabrina; Burian, Alfred & Brys, Rein (2021). Effects of preservation strategies on environmental DNA detection and quantification using ddPCR. Environmental DNA. doi: 10.1002/edn3.188. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Molecular-based monitoring relying on environmental DNA (eDNA) detection became routinely used around the world in the last few years, especially in aquatic environments. The large potential and increasing applications of this technique calls for technical improvements to optimize the reliability of these surveys. An important technical aspect in the eDNA workflow is the appropriate preservation of samples taken in the field, as it can significantly affect eDNA recovery and ultimately false negative rates. In this study, we explored the efficiency of five different preservation strategies by using a controlled mesocosm experiment in which we included three fish communities of different composition. Specifically, we compared eDNA recovery in DNA extractions (a) performed immediately following collection, or after eight months storage from (b) frozen filters, (c) unfiltered water samples stored at −20°C, and filters preserved at room temperature with (d) Longmire and (e) Sarkosyl buffer. Effects of different preservation strategies were quantified using ddPCR measurements of three fish species (Neogobius melanostomus, Rutilus rutilus, and Lota lota) and total fish DNA content using group-specific primers for Teleostei. Samples extracted immediately following collection without any further preservation yielded significantly less DNA compared to the other approaches. Overall, Longmire's buffer facilitated the best eDNA recovery across all fish species although approaches such as filter freezing or the use of Sarkosyl buffer yielded similar recovery results. Relative measurement variability, an important indicator for reliable eDNA quantification, was lowest when using Longmire's and Sarkosyl buffers and generally decreased when increasing eDNA quantity. Overall, our results clearly highlight the significant impact of sample preservation and how this can substantially affect the performance and reliability of eDNA-based approaches.

• Rodríguez-Ezpeleta, Naiara; Morissette, Olivier; Bean, Colin W.; Manu, Shivakumara; Banerjee, Pritam & Lacoursière-Roussel, AnaIs [Show all 26 contributors for this article] (2021). Trade-offs between reducing complex terminology and producing accurate interpretations from environmental DNA: Comment on “Environmental DNA: What's behind the term?” by Pawlowski et al., (2020). Molecular Ecology. ISSN 0962-1083. doi: 10.1111/mec.15942. Full text in Research Archive
• Baars, Jan-Robert; Minchin, Dan; Freeley, Hugh; Brekkhus, Sondre & Mauvisseau, Quentin (2021). The first record of the invasive alien freshwater amphipod Crangonyx floridanus (Bousfield, 1963) (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in two Irish river systems. BioInvasions Record. 10(3), p. 629–635. doi: 10.3391/BIR.2021.10.3.13. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  We report the presence of the North American Crangonyx floridanus co-occurring with C. pseudogracilis in two Irish rivers, following surveys in three rivers, eleven lake sites and an ornamental pond in 2020. This is the first record of C. floridanus in Ireland which was previously recorded in Britain in 2017. We predict that this species is likely to expand its range through the river and canal connections in Ireland as well as from inadvertent anthropogenic transmission. The taxonomic criteria are cryptic and for this reason, we used genetic methods to distinguish the two species in this study. The results highlight the need to investigate the distribution and impact of these two species in freshwater habitats in Ireland.

• Burian, Alfred; Pinn, Daisy; Peralta-Maraver, Ignacio; Sweet, Michael; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Eyice, Ozge [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Predation increases multiple components of microbial diversity in activated sludge communities. The ISME Journal. ISSN 1751-7362. doi: 10.1038/s41396-021-01145-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract Protozoan predators form an essential component of activated sludge communities that is tightly linked to wastewater treatment efficiency. Nonetheless, very little is known how protozoan predation is channelled via bacterial communities to affect ecosystem functioning. Therefore, we experimentally manipulated protozoan predation pressure in activated-sludge communities to determine its impacts on microbial diversity, composition and putative functionality. Different components of bacterial diversity such as taxa richness, evenness, genetic diversity and beta diversity all responded strongly and positively to high protozoan predation pressure. These responses were non-linear and levelled off at higher levels of predation pressure, supporting predictions of hump-shaped relationships between predation pressure and prey diversity. In contrast to predation intensity, the impact of predator diversity had both positive (taxa richness) and negative (evenness and phylogenetic distinctiveness) effects on bacterial diversity. Furthermore, predation shaped the structure of bacterial communities. Reduction in top-down control negatively affected the majority of taxa that are generally associated with increased treatment efficiency, compromising particularly the potential for nitrogen removal. Consequently, our findings highlight responses of bacterial diversity and community composition as two distinct mechanisms linking protozoan predation with ecosystem functioning in activated sludge communities.

• Troth, Christopher; Burian, Alfred; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Bulling, Mark; Nightingale, Jen & Mauvisseau, Christophe [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Development and application of eDNA-based tools for the conservation of white-clawed crayfish. Science of the Total Environment. ISSN 0048-9697. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141394. Full text in Research Archive
• Brys, Rein; Halfmaerten, David; Neyrinck, Sabrina; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Auwerx, Johan & Sweet, Michael [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Reliable eDNA detection and quantification of the European weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis). Journal of Fish Biology. ISSN 0022-1112. doi: 10.1111/jfb.14315. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Kalogianni, Eleni; Zimmerman, Brian; Bulling, Mark; Brys, Rein & Sweet, Michael (2020). eDNA‐based monitoring: Advancement in management and conservation of critically endangered killifish species. Environmental DNA. doi: 10.1002/edn3.92. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Tönges, Sina; Andriantsoa, Ranja; Lyko, Frank & Sweet, Michael (2019). Early detection of an emerging invasive species: eDNA monitoring of a parthenogenetic crayfish in freshwater systems. Management of Biological Invasions. ISSN 1989-8649. doi: 10.3391/mbi.2019.10.3.04. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Troth, Christopher; Young, Emily; Burian, Alfred & Sweet, Michael (2019). The development of an eDNA based detection method for the invasive shrimp Dikerogammarus haemobaphes. Management of Biological Invasions. ISSN 1989-8649. doi: 10.3391/mbi.2019.10.3.03. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Davy-Bowker, John; Bulling, Mark; Brys, Rein; Neyrinck, Sabrina & Troth, Christopher [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Combining ddPCR and environmental DNA to improve detection capabilities of a critically endangered freshwater invertebrate. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50571-9. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Davy-Bowker, John; Bryson, David; Souch, Graham; Burian, Alfred & Sweet, Michael (2019). First detection of a highly invasive freshwater amphipod Crangonyx floridanus (Bousfield, 1963) in the United Kingdom. BioInvasions Record. doi: 10.3391/bir.2019.8.1.01. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Burian, Alfred; Gibson, Ceri; Brys, Rein; Ramsey, Andrew & Sweet, Michael (2019). Influence of accuracy, repeatability and detection probability in the reliability of species-specific eDNA based approaches. Scientific Reports. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37001-y. Full text in Research Archive

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• Kopatz, Alexander; Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Grainger, Matthew; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Rueness, Eli Knispel & Star, Bastiaan (2026). Non-detriment finding for Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). VKM Bulletin. 2026(14), p. 1–8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the export from Norway to Hungary of one live female Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) bred in captivity will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect its conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Star, Bastiaan; Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Gehrke, Berit; Grainger, Matthew; Kopatz, Alexander & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Non-detriment finding for stony corals (order Scleractinia). VKM Bulletin. 2026(16), p. 1–10. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the proposed export of live, asexually propagated stony coral specimens (Order Scleractinia) will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect their conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Eldegard, Katrine; Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Rueness, Eli Knispel; Star, Bastiaan & Boer, Hugo de (2026). Non-detriment finding for osprey (Pandion haliaetus). VKM Bulletin. 2026(15), p. 1–10. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the proposed export of a maximum of 26 live, wild-sourced osprey fledglings for reintroduction purposes will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect its conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Eldegard, Katrine; Grainger, Matthew; Kopatz, Alexander; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Rueness, Eli Knispel [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Non-detriment finding for Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer). VKM Bulletin. 2026(07), p. 1–7. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/ndfforreexportofthreelivecubancrocodilescrocodylusrhombiferbornincaptivity.4.52ec987319c88eb5fde7b061.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the re-export from Norway to Denmark of three live Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) born in captivity for the purpose of zoological exhibition will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect its conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Grainger, Matthew; Eldegard, Katrine; Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Kopatz, Alexander; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Rueness, Eli Knispel [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Non-detriment finding for Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx). VKM Bulletin. 2026(06), p. 1–8. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/ndfforexportofhuntingtrophyfromeurasianlynxlynxlynx.4.52ec987319c88eb5fde7ad89.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the export of one harvested wild female Lynx lynx from Norway to Sweden as a hunting trophy will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect its conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Star, Bastiaan; Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Eldegard, Katrine; Grainger, Matthew; Kopatz, Alexander & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). Non-detriment finding for stony corals (order Scleractinia). VKM Bulletin. 2026(05), p. 1–10. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/ndfforexportoflivestonycoralsorderscleractinia.4.52ec987319c88eb5fde7ab90.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the proposed export of live, asexually propagated stony coral specimens (Order Scleractinia) will be non-detrimental to the survival of the species and will not adversely affect their conservation status, in accordance with Article IV of the Convention and Chapter 2, Section 5 of the Norwegian CITES Regulation.

• Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Eldegard, Katrine; Grainger, Matthew; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Rueness, Eli Knispel & Star, Bastiaan [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2026). Non-detriment finding for ocellated spinytail (Uromastyx ocellata). VKM Bulletin. 2026(04), p. 1–6. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/ndfforexportofliveoccelatedspinytailsuromastyxocellata.4.52ec987319c88eb5fde7a29c.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the export from Norway to Germany of 45 live ocellated spinytails (Uromastyx ocellata) bred in captivity will not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species. The individuals in question, and their parents, were bred in captivity and have had no contact with wild conspecifics. Therefore, the export is not likely to have any harmful effects on the conservation status of the species in the wild.

• Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Eldegard, Katrine; Grainger, Matthew; Kopatz, Alexander; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Rueness, Eli Knispel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Non-detriment finding for cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). VKM Bulletin. 2025(26), p. 1–7. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the export of one live male cheetah bred in captivity will not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species.

• Hermansen, Jo Skeie; Eldegard, Katrine; Grainger, Matthew; Kopatz, Alexander; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Rueness, Eli Knispel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Non-detriment finding for cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). VKM Bulletin. 2025(25), p. 1–7. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/ndfforimportoftwolivecheetahsacinonyxjubatusbredincaptivity.4.58ee4108199ffd2732b508e9.html. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  VKM concludes that the import of two live male cheetahs bred in captivity will not have a harmful effect on the conservation status of the species.

• Frank, Lea; Walker, Samuel James; Onshuus, Emma Katrin; Boilard, Aurélie; Mauvisseau, Quentin & Furness, Lydia Hildebrand [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). From forests to fire: Reconstructing Holocene forest ecosystems and Nordic Bronze Age human cave activity at Solvikhola, Nordland, Northern Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Caves offer exceptional preservation conditions for organics and archaeological remains, providing vital insights into biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and anthropogenic and climatic events over millennia. Solvikhola (67°12'46.2"N, Fauske, Nordland, Northern Norway), a cave excavated in 2023, revealed a remarkable palaeoarchive with a sedimentary deposit spanning the last 7600 cal. years. Ten distinct stratigraphic layers contained organic remains such as bones, shells, leaves, and charcoal, providing a unique opportunity to reconstruct past environments and prehistoric human activity in higher latitudes. Such long-term records are rudimentary and underexplored above the Arctic Circle, making Solvikhola an invaluable resource for understanding the region’s distant past. Applying a multidisciplinary methodology including archaeology, ancient DNA (aDNA) bulk-bone metabarcoding (BBM), palynology, geology, and isotope analysis (14C-dating), we uncovered a hearth with a torch and a Bronze Age cultural layer. Morever, we identified a diverse faunal sequence back to the Mesolithic. Zooarchaeological analysis identified 18 taxa across Amphibia, Aves, Mammalia, and Pisces representative of 9% of the bone fragments. aDNA BBM considerably expanded taxonomic resolution, identifying more than 56 taxa from the remaining 91% of bone fragments. This dataset highlights a relatively stable forest ecosystem with small climatic fluctuations, hosting foxes, wolves, reindeer, small mammals (e.g., Arvicolidae, Cricetidae, Leporidae), and birds (e.g., Strigidae, Hirundinidae, Phasianidae) resembling the present-day ecosystem in Northern Norway. Notably, the discovery of archaeological remains dating to c. 2700 cal. BP offers evidence of early human activity at the cave site, contributing valuable data to the limited knowledge of human presence in this northern interior region.

• Frank, Lea; Walker, Samuel James; Onshuus, Emma Katrin; Boilard, Aurélie; Furness, Lydia Hildebrand & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2025). From forests to fire: Reconstructing Holocene forest ecosystems and Nordic Bronze Age human cave activity at Solvikhola, Northern Norway. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Caves offer exceptional preservation conditions for organics and archaeological remains, providing insights into biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and anthropogenic events over millennia. Solvikhola (67°12'46.2"N, Fauske, Nordland, Northern Norway), a cave excavated in 2023, revealed a remarkable palaeoarchive with a sedimentary deposit spanning the last 7600 cal. years. Ten distinct stratigraphic layers contained organic remains such as bones, shells, leaves, and charcoal, providing a unique opportunity to reconstruct past environments and prehistoric human activity in higher latitudes. Such long-term records are rudimentary and underexplored above the Arctic Circle, making Solvikhola an invaluable resource for understanding the region’s distant past. Applying a multidisciplinary methodology including archaeology, ancient DNA (aDNA) bulk-bone metabarcoding (BBM), palynology, geology, and isotope analysis (14C-dating), we uncovered a hearth with a torch and a Bronze Age cultural layer. Morever, we identified a diverse faunal sequence back to the Mesolithic. Osteological analysis identified 18 taxa across Amphibia, Aves, Mammalia, and Pisces representative of 24% of the bone fragments. Ancient DNA BBM considerably expanded taxonomic resolution, identifying more than 56 taxa from the remaining 76% of bone fragments. This dataset highlights a relatively stable forest ecosystem with small climatic fluctuations, hosting foxes, wolves, reindeer, small mammals (e.g., Arvicolidae, Cricetidae, Leporidae), and birds (e.g., Strigidae, Hirundinidae, Phasianidae) resembling the present-day ecosystem in Northern Norway. Notably, the discovery of archaeological remains dating to c. 2700 cal. BP offers evidence of early human activity at the cave site, contributing valuable data to the limited knowledge of human presence in this northern interior region.

• Boer, Hugo de; Blaalid, Rakel; Eldegard, Katrine; Gehrke, Berit; Hermansen, Jo Skeie & Mauvisseau, Quentin [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2025). Assessment of listing proposals submitted for CITES CoP20. VKM Bulletin. 2025(21), p. 1–171. doi: https:/vkm.no/english/riskassessments/allpublications/citescop20vkmreviewsproposedchangestointernationalspecieslistsaheadofglobalsummit.4.4600acee199c8dc392ba2b.html. Full text in Research Archive
• Mahlangu, Sibusiso; Ewers, Isabelle; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Dunthorn, Micah & Karlsen, Hans Erik [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2025). Investigating the dynamics of the aquatic community in Oslofjord through time series analysis of eDNA. BioRxiv. ISSN 0362-4331. doi: 10.1101/2025.02.05.636659. Full text in Research Archive
• Cruz, Marcelo Merten; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas & Melo, Silvana [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Bony fish diversity identified from environmental DNA identifies regional biogeographic breaks. Full text in Research Archive
• Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Brito, Rafaela Maria Serra de; Nunes, Jorge Luiz Silva; Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Melo, Silvana & Boer, Hugo de [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). INSIGHTS ON THE DIET OF THREE THREATENED ELASMOBRANCHS OBTAINED USING A MOLECULAR APPROACH OF STOMACH CONTENTS. Full text in Research Archive
• Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Gromstad, William Esbjug; Dunthorn, Micah; Karlsen, Hans Erik; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun & Ready, Jonathan Stuart [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Unveiling fish community dynamics in the Oslo fjord through eDNA metabarcoding. Full text in Research Archive
• Conceição, Amanda; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Lee, James; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Anjos, Marcia da Silva & Melo, Silvana [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Zooplankton diversity of the Blue Amazon evaluated by metabarcoding analysis of bulk samples. Full text in Research Archive
• Queiroz, Anna Karolina Oliveira de; Gasalla, Maria A.; Laux, Marcele; Oliveira, Renato Renison Moreira; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa & Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Dietary metabarcoding of keystone sardine species reveals the importance of their ichthyoplankton prey in food webs of the Southern Brazilian Bight fisheries. Full text in Research Archive
• Oliveira, Luiz F.; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Asenjo, Angélico; Vasconcelos, Santelmo; Oliveira, Renato Renison Moreira & Aleixo, Alexandre [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Mitogenomic reference data for bony fishes from the eastern Amazon. Full text in Research Archive
• Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Charvet, Patricia; Faria, Vicente & Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Environmental DNA identifies sharks and rays across their biodiversity hotspot along the northern coast of Brazil. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin; Boer, Hugo de; Schrøder-Nielsen, Audun; Burian, Alfred; Bohmann, Kristine & Bodawatta, Kasun H. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). Environmental DNA/RNA based BioBlitz in a remote Arctic Island. Full text in Research Archive
• Pereira, Kerly; Rincon, Getúlio; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Reis, Orlando & Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). eDNA metabarcoding identifies the diet of the Freshwater Stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) (Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae) in Maranhão, Brazil. Full text in Research Archive
• Amaral, Aisha Carolina Cei; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Silva, Dalila Costa; Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Melo, Silvana & Sales, João Bráullio de Luna [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF THE DIETARY HABITS OF THE INVASIVE PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII (DE MAN, 1789): A GENERALIST PREDATOR IN AMAZON DELTA. Full text in Research Archive
• Ready, Jonathan Stuart; Mauvisseau, Quentin; Sales, João Bráullio de Luna; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Anjos, Marcia da Silva & Barreto, Silvia [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). High intensity sampling for metabarcoding to addresses monitoring strategies and management plans for environmental recovery in Amazonian systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Amaral, Aisha Carolina Cei; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Silva, Dalila Costa; Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Melo, Silvana & Sales, João Bráullio de Luna [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). Molecular analysis shows that the invasive shrimp Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a generalist and opportunistic predator in the Amazon delta. Full text in Research Archive
• Kimura, Naelma Gonçalves; Tabosa, Ana Elena Souza; Pinheiro, Yany Victória Rabêlo; Anjos, Marcia da Silva; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira & Sales, João Bráullio de Luna [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2024). METABARCODING OF BULK PITFALL TRAP SAMPLES TO TRACK FOREST RECOVERY AFTER MINING. Full text in Research Archive
• Pinheiro, Yany Victória Rabêlo; Tabosa, Ana Elena Souza; Kimura, Naelma Gonçalves; Anjos, Marcia da Silva; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira & Sales, João Bráullio de Luna [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). THE USE OF METABARCODING IN BULK SAMPLES FROM FLIGHT INTERCEPTION TRAPS IN POST-MINING RECOVERY AREAS. Full text in Research Archive
• Sajid, Uswa; BATISTA-MORALES, Angelica Maria; Rocha, Lilith Lopes; Rosa, Fabricio dos Anjos Santa; Queiroz, Anna Karolina Oliveira de & Ribas, Talita Fernanda Augusto [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Evaluating the diet diversity of the Whitemouth Croaker: A comparison between traditional methods and DNA metabarcoding. Full text in Research Archive
• Tabosa, Ana Elena Souza; Kimura, Naelma Gonçalves; Pinheiro, Yany Victória Rabêlo; Anjos, Marcia da Silva; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira & Thorbek, Birgitte Lisbeth Graae [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2024). METABARCODING IDENTIFICATION OF ARTHROPODS IN BULK SAMPLES FROM CDC LIGHT TRAPS IN POST-BAUXITE MINING AREAS IN PARÁ. Full text in Research Archive
• Dergan, Jessica Conceição Nascimento; Silva, Amanda Reis da; Reis, Orlando Gabriel da Silva Solano; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Ready, Jonathan Stuart & Boer, Hugo de [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2024). CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PLASTID GENOME (PLASTOME) OF MIMOSA SENSITIVA L. (FABACEAE-MIMOSOIDEAE). Full text in Research Archive
• Paiva, Bianca Lima; Rodrigues, Alan Erik Souza; Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira; Anmarkrud, Jarl Andreas; Melo, Silvana & Charvet, Patricia [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Endangered species for sale. Full text in Research Archive
• Anjos, Marcia da Silva; Kimura, Naelma Gonçalves; Tabosa, Ana Elena Souza; Pinheiro, Yany Victória Rabêlo; Costa, Marlyson J. R. & Carvalho, Cintia Oliveira [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Metabarcoding of spider webs in monitoring forest recovery in the Amazon. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2024). Investigating fish community composition and its seasonal changes in the Oslo fjord through eDNA metabarcoding. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Biodiversity monitoring using molecular based detection methods. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Environmental DNA based biomonitoring in diverse habitats. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Challenges of monitoring poorly characterized marine and freshwater habitats in Sub-Saharan Africa: an eDNA prospect. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Monitoring marine and freshwater habitats from polar to tropical environments: challenges of eDNA based monitoring. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Molecular Based Tools for Assessing Biodiversity and Habitat Quality. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2023). Monitoring marine and freshwater habitats from polar to tropical environments: challenges of eDNA based monitoring. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2022). Environmental DNA (eDNA) based detection for species monitoring in aquatic systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2022). Biodiversity monitoring using molecular based detection methods. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin & Ready, Jonathan Stuart (2022). Challenges of monitoring vast and poorly characterised coastlines in Sub-Saharan Africa: an eDNA prospect. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2022). Apport de l’ADN environnemental et du metabarcoding pour les inventaires biologiques. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2022). Environmental DNA (eDNA) based detection for species monitoring in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2022). Environmental DNA-based tracking of species community in Norwegian freshwater systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2021). eDNA analyses for monitoring target taxa. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2021). Choosing between qPCR and ddPCR for species detection. Full text in Research Archive
• Mauvisseau, Quentin (2021). Species detection using eDNA species-specific approach or metabarcoding in aquatic systems. Full text in Research Archive
• Johnsen, Steffen; Haugaasen, Torbjørn & Mauvisseau, Quentin (2024). Vertebrate environmental DNA from understory leaf swabs unravel the canopy fauna of tropical forests. Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The Amazon basin, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, remains underexplored despite its immense ecological importance. Arboreal species, which play critical ecological roles, are especially understudied due to the difficulties of accessing forest canopies. These knowledge gaps are particularly concerning as tropical ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented anthropogenic pressures. Addressing these challenges requires the development of efficient biomonitoring methods to uncover and preserve the Amazon's rich biodiversity. I conducted an eDNA metabarcoding survey where I tested the viability of leaf swabbing, a new and innovative technique, for detecting arboreal and terrestrial vertebrates. Ninety leaves across five leaf types were swabbed across terra firme and várzea forests along the middle Juruá river, in the western Brazilian Amazon. Twenty-eight species were detected from five taxonomic classes, with eight (28.6%) arboreal species detected. Várzea showed a significantly higher species detection rate per swab (14.68), compared to terra firme (7.64). However, the species turnover between the forests was extremely low (Jaccard dissimilarity index = 0.071). Forest type had a significant effect on read count, while leaf type and dimensions were non-significant. While the leaf swabbing approach demonstrated its viability for detecting vertebrate terrestrial and arboreal taxa, it was limited by the low species richness detected in a highly biodiverse region. This limitation is likely attributed to incomplete reference databases and DNA degradation. These challenges reduce the method’s effectiveness in tropical forests. However, advancements in technology and expansion of reference databases could significantly improve this approach.

• Taylor, Max Beaumont; Haugaasen, Torbjørn & Mauvisseau, Quentin (2024). Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) among amphibians in an Amazonian floodplain forest. Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The increasing frequency of emerging infectious disease outbreaks is causing population declines and sparking concerns for species conservation. Chytridiomycosis is one of these diseases. It is caused by the widespread pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) found on amphibians and is one of the leading causes of amphibian decline. The fungus has gained major attention for its role in decimating amphibian populations, particularly in upland forests in the neotropical realm, where the abiotic conditions are often ideal for the fungus. However, little is known about Bd prevalence and dynamics in the hotter lowland forests of the neotropics, particularly in the vast and remote areas of the Amazon lowlands. This study aims to improve our understanding of Bd prevalence in the Amazon lowlands, focusing specifically on a relatively unexplored area along the middle Juruá River in the western Brazilian Amazon. I conducted a survey where I assessed Bd prevalence in 23 anuran species (n = 95) at a single site in a floodplain forest along the middle Juruá river. The study area was approximately 44 km downstream from the town of Carauari in the state of Amazonas. Data on morphology (weight and snout-vent length), taxonomical identification and habitat preference were also collected to serve as potential predictors of Bd prevalence. Bd was detected in 7 anuran individuals, each belonging to a different species and representing six anuran families. The overall prevalence of Bd was 7.42 %. The low prevalence detected is consistent with most other findings from the few studies conducted in the Amazon lowlands. A logistic regression analysis showed no association between Bd infection and morphometrics or habitat preference (p > 0.05). This study is the first contemporary Bd survey along the Juruá river. It also adds a new species to the growing list of Bd-infected species worldwide, with the detection of an infected Pipa snethlageae individual. Large parts of the Amazon lowlands remain unexplored regarding Bd infection prevalence in amphibians and increased sampling will help us better understand Bd dynamics and its effects on amphibian populations.

• Ekrem, Torbjørn; Baussant, Thierry; Dunshea, Glenn John; Dunthorn, Micah; Egge, Elianne Dunthorn & Engesmo, Anette [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2023). The use of eDNA and DNA based methods to assess and monitor alien and doorknocker species. Norwegian Environment Agency. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  All organisms leave traces of their DNA in the environment they live in. This environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used to detect and monitor single species as well as communities, and potentially be utilized in early warning systems to detect alien species. In this report, we give an overview of eDNA-based methods used to detect and monitor alien species, and give examples of speciesspecific assays designed to identify species that are alien to Norwegian nature or have the potential to establish viable populations in Norway (doorknockers). We emphasize the need for several stages of testing before species-specific assays can be operational, and discuss the importance of including models to assess detection probabilities. Going through standards for sampling and analyses, we suggest a number of minimum requirements for eDNA sampling, laboratory practice, bioinformatics and the use of reference libraries, as well as for reporting results from eDNA studies. The origin and fate of eDNA in different environments can influence its usefulness in detecting and monitoring alien species. We outline factors for terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems and provide examples from six case studies where eDNA has been used to detect and/or monitor alien invasive species: invertebrates and vascular plants in soil of imported ornamental plants, freshwater crayfish and crayfish plague, Gyrodactylus salaris, pink salmon, Canadian pondweed, and American lobster. We provide a decision diagram for detection and monitoring of invasive species starting with early considerations for implementation of a monitoring program, and ending with management decision points depending on detection outcomes at different stages. Finally, we provide some key recommendations for the use of eDNA in assessments of alien and doorknocker species.

• Dunshea, Glenn; Martell, Luis; Bakken, Torkild; Budaeva, Nataliya; Ekrem, Torbjørn & Tandberg, Anne Helene S. [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2021). Kunnskapsstatus for bruk av molekylære verktøy i kartlegging og overvåkning av biologisk mangfold i marine miljø. Miljødirektoratet. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Denne rapporten er bestilt av Miljødirektoratet fra NorBOL (Norwegian Barcode of Life), et nasjonalt nettverk av forskningsinstitusjoner som koordineres av NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet. Universitetsmuseet i Bergen har hatt prosjektledelsen. Rapporten gir en oppsummering av dagens status på DNA-basert metodikk som verktøy i kartlegging og overvåking av biologisk mangfold i det marine miljø. Fokus har vært på innsamlingsmetodikk og protokoller for DNA-analyser av arter og artsgrupper. Metodikken er evaluert opp mot kartleggings- og overvåkingsaktivitet i regi av Miljødirektoratet, og kommer med anbefalinger for videre framdrift for å ta metodikken i bruk i nasjonal kartlegging og overvåking. Rapporten har også en gjennomgang og evaluering av eksisterende referansemateriale og referansesekvenser for relevante arter og artsgrupper som inngår i Miljødirektoratets kartleggings- og overvåkingsaktivitet.

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