Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a noninvasive method used to determine species presence or abundance, measuring and monitoring populations. eDNA can detect chloroplast, nuclear or mitochondrial DNA that has been shed from an organism in water, air, or soil. eDNA requires both field and laboratory procedures for detecting species. In Western North Carolina, three freshwater ponds were indirectly monitored to detect the presence of mole salamanders, Ambystoma talpoideum. Mole salamanders breed in freshwater ponds during winter months, releasing cellular material. The cellular material left behind in ponds was genetically analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify the COX1 gene. We were able to detect mole salamanders, along with other algae and fish species in vernal pools and permanent ponds. Future studies will focus on using eDNA to quantify mole salamander populations.
How to Cite
Askew-Moore, M., (2021) “Detection of the Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) in Aquatic Habitats using Environmental DNA”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 34(1).
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