Assessment of eDNA technique as a potential monitoring tool for Chinook Salmon in northern Canada

该项目将展示应用环境DNA（eDNA）的商业价值， 资源管理和资源开发举措影响到一个最重要的文化和 不列颠哥伦比亚省和育空地区的经济鱼类-鲑鱼。该项目将使用eDNA来跟踪奇努克如何 鲑鱼在北美最长的迁徙路线--育空地区河--沿线沿着。我们将 证明了在关键时期应用eDNA识别奇努克栖息地使用的价值。 产卵期如果成功，eDNA有可能取代现有的高侵入性监测 技术广泛使用的环境科学家和顾问，并提供成本效益高， 通过确定水体中或水体上游物种的DNA， 水样 总部位于温哥华的环境咨询公司Hemmera目前正在开发这项技术 不列颠哥伦比亚省的eDNA程序规范，并正在实施初步 为客户提供商业应用。为了更充分地发挥eDNA的潜力，Hemmera的目标是 展示该技术在更广泛的物种管理（如种群管理）中的价值 管理/加强或更好地减轻与大型资源开发有关的潜在不利影响 项目Hemmera与育空地区学院/育空地区研究中心合作开展该项目， 定位于为团队带来技术和实践eDNA经验， 育空地区和不列颠哥伦比亚省的生物学家工作人员。育空地区学院正在提供关键的数学建模 专业知识，额外的行政支持，并将利用他们的地位作为一个联系在育空地区的研究， 监管和行业社区传播和交流本研究的结果。

This project will demonstrate the commercial value of applying environmental DNA (eDNA) to inform both resource management and resource development initiatives affecting one of the most important cultural and economic fish species in BC and the Yukon - salmon. The project will use eDNA to follow how Chinook Salmon use aquatic habitats along their longest migration route in North America - the Yukon River. We will demonstrate the value of applying eDNA for the identification of Chinook habitat use during the critical spawning period. If successful, eDNA has the potential to replace existing highly invasive monitoring techniques widely used by environmental scientists and consultants and provides cost-effective and highly accurate information on species living in a water body or upstream from it based on identifying their DNA in water samples. Hemmera, a Vancouver based environmental consulting firm, is currently developing the technical specifications for eDNA procedures for the Province of British Columbia and is implementing initial commercial applications for clients. To more fully realize the potential of eDNA, Hemmera aims to demonstrate the value of the technology for broader species management such as in population management/enhancement or to better mitigate potential adverse effects related to large resource development projects. Hemmera is partnering with Yukon College/Yukon Research Centre for this project and is uniquely positioned to bring technical and practical eDNA experience to the team with technical and professional biologist staff in both Yukon and British Columbia. Yukon College is contributing key mathematical modeling expertise, additional administrative support and will use their position as a nexus in the Yukon research, regulatory and industry communities to disseminate and communicate the results of this study.