Northern B.C. salmon are the focus of a new study that may revolutionize how we count seasonal runs, and expand our understanding of populations in streams too remote to include in today害羞草研究所檚 surveys.
The study is a collaboration between Simon Fraser University and the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority (the technical arm of the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs near Terrace) with the goal of determining if salmonid environmental DNA (eDNA) found in river-water samples can establish the number of spawning fish as accurately as manual counts.
害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檒l be successful. We害羞草研究所檙e looking at five different species and I think we害羞草研究所檝e got a really good chance at this,害羞草研究所� said lead researcher, SFU biology professor Vicki Marlatt.
Environmental DNA refers to traces of DNA animals shed into their surroundings 害羞草研究所� a pink salmon, for example, will release billions of cells per day in its feces and dislodged scales. For this study, researchers will collect one-litre samples of river water on a daily basis then count the DNA occurrences of the targeted species. With the help of a statistician, what害羞草研究所檚 found in that sample can be extrapolated to account for the entire stream.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a fair bit of math behind it,害羞草研究所� Marlatt said.
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The challenges are to figure out exactly how many cells each salmon species sheds in one day, to avoid counting an individual fish more than once, and then calibrating the process to account for ever-changing river conditions. But if the math is right, the count will be equal to the conventional manual method, where salmon are tallied one by one as they pass through fences and gates spanning the river.
The benefit of eDNA sampling means a low-cost, non-invasive method of counting that doesn害羞草研究所檛 require constant human presence. It can also be expanded for wider commercial use across fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
害羞草研究所淚f we害羞草研究所檙e successful, this would allow us to collect more data on the number of salmon in hundreds of rivers that are not being counted in Canada,害羞草研究所� Marlatt said. 害羞草研究所淎lso, if this proves to be more effective and efficient, in terms of human time and cost, then certainly this is something we could consider replacing some of the fish fences with.害羞草研究所�
But eDNA sampling would augment, not replace, the fence counts on the Kitwanga River.
Gitanyow Fisheries head biologist and senior technical advisor, Mark Cleveland, explained the fence off the mid-point of the Skeena River is the only one among few in the Northwest that counts all five species of salmon. It害羞草研究所檚 a state-of-the-art device with a high-definition camera to assist with manual counts that also enables staff to isolate about five per cent of the passing fish for important physical inspections for weight, sex and overall health.
害羞草研究所淭his is a unique facility 害羞草研究所� but it害羞草研究所檚 really labour intensive and expensive so you can害羞草研究所檛 have them everywhere,害羞草研究所� Cleveland said.
害羞草研究所淲ith this eDNA technology, 10 years down the road we might have it dialed in so we can go take water samples in different watersheds 害羞草研究所� if you take it at key times, you could do more surveys in more areas and it would result in better management.害羞草研究所�
Accurate counts are critical for Fisheries and Oceans Canada to determine allowable harvests each year in the commercial, recreational and First Nations fisheries. The department will sometimes rely on fence counts when river conditions disrupt efforts at the Tyee Test Fishery in the lower Skeena.
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害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 important to reach that balance where we害羞草研究所檙e escaping enough fish to the various places so we don害羞草研究所檛 over-exploit them to the point they don害羞草研究所檛 come back. These programs give us the spot check we need,害羞草研究所� Cleveland said.
The eDNA study was scheduled for completion this year but high rains forced its postponement to 2021.
Marlatt is confident of the experiment害羞草研究所檚 success next year, citing one of very few related studies recently completed in Alaska.
害羞草研究所淚t really is a lot of work, and it was going so well,害羞草研究所� Marlatt said. 害羞草研究所淲e managed to get this up and running despite a pandemic and despite getting all the funds laid down and the team together 害羞草研究所� then the heavy rains came and the fence had to be opened otherwise the [river] would have taken it down. But we害羞草研究所檙e ready to go next year and I害羞草研究所檓 pretty optimistic, based on the study in Alaska. With some tight manual counts and tight water-flow data, I think we害羞草研究所檒l make some big strides.害羞草研究所�
The study is funded through Genome BC害羞草研究所檚 Sector Innovation Program.
