Stream Transport and Retention of Environmental DNA Pulse Releases in Relation to Hydrogeomorphic Scaling Factors.

The DNA of aquatic organisms can be identified in water sampled from freshwater ecosystems to detect species presence. Because these DNA-based methods (termed environmental DNA, eDNA) confirm species presence by proxy of DNA in water, the processes influencing eDNA transport and removal from water are critical to the method's efficacy and interpretation of results. Previous studies of aquatic eDNA transport and fate have employed uncontrolled field experiments, controlled studies in experimental streams, and laboratory column tests.