Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River

In recent years, the population of <i>Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis</i> has experienced a rapid decline due to habitat degradation caused by overfishing and dam construction. In the current study, water samples were collected from four tanks containing <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis&...

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Main Authors: Hu Zhao, Han Zhang, Kunyang Zhang, Jie Deng, Cheng Fang, Jianlu Zhang, Fei Kong, Wei Jiang, Qijun Wang, Hongying Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/977
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author Hu Zhao
Han Zhang
Kunyang Zhang
Jie Deng
Cheng Fang
Jianlu Zhang
Fei Kong
Wei Jiang
Qijun Wang
Hongying Ma
author_facet Hu Zhao
Han Zhang
Kunyang Zhang
Jie Deng
Cheng Fang
Jianlu Zhang
Fei Kong
Wei Jiang
Qijun Wang
Hongying Ma
author_sort Hu Zhao
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the population of <i>Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis</i> has experienced a rapid decline due to habitat degradation caused by overfishing and dam construction. In the current study, water samples were collected from four tanks containing <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> individuals with wet weights of 5.8 g, 12.3 g, 34.7 g, and 81.7 g, respectively, and the cycle threshold (Ct) values of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> in each tank were measured using quantitative PCR. Additionally, water samples were collected from six sites along the Zhouzhi Heihe River (Yu Dongquan, Ban Fangzi, Ba Mugou, two sites along Wang Jia, and Qingshui Rivers), and the Ct values of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> at these sites were quantified. The results show that the relationship between the Ct values measured by the quantitative test and the fish biomass in the corresponding tanks followed an exponential function, with a regression coefficient of 0.9987. The biomass for the six sites was determined using the established relationship, and the results indicate that the biomass of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> was highest in Yu Dongquan, followed by Ban Fangzi, Ba Mugou, Wang Jia River 2, and Qingshui, with the lowest biomass observed in Wang Jia River 1. These findings are consistent with the species’ adaptive survival distribution across the six sites. This study presents a standardized approach for using an eDNA-based quantitative PCR assay to monitor <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i>. It provides an advanced technical method applicable to the protection and monitoring of other aquatic species in future studies.
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spelling doaj-art-673b45f4f58945ebaa9bcec331ff75182025-08-20T02:17:00ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-03-0115797710.3390/ani15070977Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe RiverHu Zhao0Han Zhang1Kunyang Zhang2Jie Deng3Cheng Fang4Jianlu Zhang5Fei Kong6Wei Jiang7Qijun Wang8Hongying Ma9Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaShaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Security, Shaanxi Institute of Zoology, Xi’an 710032, ChinaIn recent years, the population of <i>Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis</i> has experienced a rapid decline due to habitat degradation caused by overfishing and dam construction. In the current study, water samples were collected from four tanks containing <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> individuals with wet weights of 5.8 g, 12.3 g, 34.7 g, and 81.7 g, respectively, and the cycle threshold (Ct) values of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> in each tank were measured using quantitative PCR. Additionally, water samples were collected from six sites along the Zhouzhi Heihe River (Yu Dongquan, Ban Fangzi, Ba Mugou, two sites along Wang Jia, and Qingshui Rivers), and the Ct values of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> at these sites were quantified. The results show that the relationship between the Ct values measured by the quantitative test and the fish biomass in the corresponding tanks followed an exponential function, with a regression coefficient of 0.9987. The biomass for the six sites was determined using the established relationship, and the results indicate that the biomass of <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i> was highest in Yu Dongquan, followed by Ban Fangzi, Ba Mugou, Wang Jia River 2, and Qingshui, with the lowest biomass observed in Wang Jia River 1. These findings are consistent with the species’ adaptive survival distribution across the six sites. This study presents a standardized approach for using an eDNA-based quantitative PCR assay to monitor <i>B. lenok tsinlingensis</i>. It provides an advanced technical method applicable to the protection and monitoring of other aquatic species in future studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/977southernmost glacial relict speciesconservation geneticsbiomasseDNATaqMan PCR
spellingShingle Hu Zhao
Han Zhang
Kunyang Zhang
Jie Deng
Cheng Fang
Jianlu Zhang
Fei Kong
Wei Jiang
Qijun Wang
Hongying Ma
Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
Animals
southernmost glacial relict species
conservation genetics
biomass
eDNA
TaqMan PCR
title Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
title_full Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
title_fullStr Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
title_full_unstemmed Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
title_short Application of Environmental DNA for Assessing the Distribution and Biomass of <i>Brachymystax lenok</i> Tsinlingensis in the Zhouzhi Heihe River
title_sort application of environmental dna for assessing the distribution and biomass of i brachymystax lenok i tsinlingensis in the zhouzhi heihe river
topic southernmost glacial relict species
conservation genetics
biomass
eDNA
TaqMan PCR
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/7/977
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