Rakestraw, Emily, Biology, Lycoming College, 3116 Reeder Road, Montoursville, PA, 17754, rakemil@lycoming.edu; Rieck, Leslie, Biology, Lycoming College, rieck@lycoming.edu; Andrew, David, Biology Lycoming College, andrew@lycoming.edu.
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Pennsylvania’s only native trout species, serve as key indicators of water quality. However, their populations have experienced significant decline due to habitat loss, rising water temperatures, and competition from invasive species. Since 2010, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has relied on multiple public and private entities to locate populations of brook trout for their Unassessed Waters Initiative (UWI). While this program has generated valuable data, the waters left to assess are becoming increasingly inaccessible. Additionally, the UWI relies on electrofishing to monitor brook trout populations, which can be labor-intensive and may cause unnecessary stress to organisms in the water. Environmental DNA (eDNA) offers a non-invasive, efficient alternative for detecting brook trout presence. This study aimed to assess the distribution of brook trout within targeted areas of the Susquehanna River watershed using eDNA sampling. Previous UWI data was compiled to perform a heat map analysis to identify regions most likely to contain brook trout. Water samples were collected along edges of brook trout hot spots, with the majority of samples coming from areas surrounding dams to investigate the effects barriers have on brook trout distribution. The samples were analyzed for brook trout DNA using quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques. This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing eDNA to monitor brook trout populations to extend the PFBC’s UWI and ensure implemented water quality protections are in place.