Skip to Main Content
U.S. Forest Service
Caring for the land and serving people

United States Department of Agriculture

Home > Search > Publication Information

  1. Inferring presence of the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) species complex using environmental DNA

    Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Twitter
    Dislike this pubLike this pub
    Author(s): Thomas W. Franklin; Joseph C. Dysthe; Michael Golden; Kevin S. McKelvey; Blake R. Hossack; Kellie J. Carim; Cynthia Tait; Michael K. Young; Michael K. Schwartz
    Date: 2018
    Source: Global Ecology and Conservation. 15: e00438.
    Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
    Station: Rocky Mountain Research Station
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00438
    PDF: Download Publication  (861.0 KB)

    Description

    Western toads (species complex comprised of Anaxyrus boreas, A. canorus, A. exsul, and A. nelsoni) are widely distributed in the western United States but are declining, particularly in the southeastern extent of their range. The subspecies A. b. boreas is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Reliable and sensitive methods for delineating distributions of western toads are critical for monitoring the status of the species and prioritizing conservation efforts. We developed two qPCR assays for detecting western toad DNA in environmental DNA samples. Both markers efficiently and reliably detect low concentrations of western toad DNA across their range in the conterminous U. S. without detecting non-target, sympatric species. To determine the optimal annual sampling period, we then tested these markers using repeated sampling in ponds where western toads were known to be present. Quantities of collected eDNA varied widely across samples, but sample-level detections across sites exceeded 80% for June sampling. In the later summer, detection dropped off sharply with only a single detection in the ten samples collected throughout August.

    Publication Notes

    • You may send email to rmrspubrequest@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication.
    • (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)
    • We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
    • This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

    Citation

    Franklin, Thomas W.; Dysthe, Joseph C.; Golden, Michael; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Hossack, Blake R.; Carim, Kellie J.; Tait, Cynthia; Young, Michael K.; Schwartz, Michael K. 2018. Inferring presence of the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) species complex using environmental DNA. Global Ecology and Conservation. 15: e00438.

    Cited

    Google Scholar

    Keywords

    eDNA, qPCR, freshwater, monitoring, wetland, amphibian

    Related Search

    XML: View XML
Show More
Show Fewer
Jump to Top of Page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/56853