The Aquatic eDNAtlas Project: Lab Results Map - USFS RMRS

Aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is the collection of DNA released by a target species into streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. Detection of stream fish with eDNA can be remarkably sensitive—100% detection efficiency of target species has been achieved despite order-of-magnitude changes in stream discharge. The eDNA samples in the eDNAtlas database describe species occurrence locations and were collected by the U.S. Forest Service and numerous agencies that have partnered with the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation (NGC) throughout the United States. The data were collected for a variety of project-specific purposes that included: species status assessments, trend monitoring at one or many sites, development of predictive species distribution models, detection and tracking of non-native species invasions, and assessments of habitat restoration efforts. The eDNAtlas database consists of two feature classes. The first component (eDNAtlas_West_AGOL_ResultsOnly) is a database of georeferenced species occurrence locations based on eDNA field sampling results, which are downloadable by species through a dynamic ArcGIS Online (AGOL) mapping tool. The earliest eDNA samples in the database were collected in 2015 but new samples and results are added annually to the database, which houses thousands of species occurrence records. The second component (eDNAtlas_West_SampleGridAndResults) is a systematically-spaced 1-kilometer grid of potential sample points in streams and rivers throughout the western United States. Future versions will include the eastern United States as well. The points in the sampling grid are arrayed along the medium-resolution National Hydrography Dataset Version 2 (NHDPlusV2) and can be used to develop custom eDNA sampling strategies for many purposes. Each sample point has a unique identity code that enables efficient integration of processed eDNA sample results with the species occurrence database.

The eDNAtlas is accessed via an interactive ArcGIS Online (AGOL) map that allows users to view and download sample site information and lab results of species occurrence for the U.S. The results are primarily based on samples analyzed at the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation (NGC) and associated with geospatial attributes created by the Boise Spatial Streams Group (BSSG).

The AGOL map displays results for all species sampled within an 8-digit USGS hydrologic unit or series of units. The map initially opens to the project extent, but allows users to zoom to areas of interest. Symbols indicate whether a field sample has been collected and processed at a specific location, and if the latter, whether the target species was present. Each flowing-water site is assigned a unique identification code in the database to ensure that it can be tracked and matched to geospatial habitat descriptors or other attributes for subsequent analyses and reports. Because no comparable database has been built for standing water, results for those sites lack this additional information but still provide data on the sample and species detected.

• Resource Title: The Aquatic eDNAtlas Project: Lab Results Map - USFS RMRS.

  File Name: Web Page, url: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=b496812d1a8847038687ff1328c481fa

  The eDNAtlas is accessed via an interactive ArcGIS Online (AGOL) map that allows users to view and download sample site information and lab results of species occurrence for the U.S. The results are primarily based on samples analyzed at the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation (NGC) and associated with geospatial attributes created by the Boise Spatial Streams Group (BSSG).

  The AGOL map displays results for all species sampled within an 8-digit USGS hydrologic unit or series of units. The map initially opens to the project extent, but allows users to zoom to areas of interest. Symbols indicate whether a field sample has been collected and processed at a specific location, and if the latter, whether the target species was present. Each flowing-water site is assigned a unique identification code in the database to ensure that it can be tracked and matched to geospatial habitat descriptors or other attributes for subsequent analyses and reports. Because no comparable database has been built for standing water, results for those sites lack this additional information but still provide data on the sample and species detected.

  For details on using the map see the Aquatic eDNAtlas Project: Lab Results ArcGIS Online Map Guide.