Optimized and validated protocol to the detection of the invasive bivalve Limnoperna fortunei from eDNA plankton samples

Abstract: We optimized a methodology for plankton environmental DNA detection of the invasive golden mussel and validated it in samples from Southern Brazil reservoir. Limnoperna fortunei is successful alien species that causes significant impacts on freshwater ecosystems. adjusted to detect L. samples, with SYBR Green assay. Based standard curve analysis, observed theoretical minimal qPCR level was 0.0005625 ng.µL-1 (R2 = 0.99) at PCR quantification cycle 14.09–29.56. also presented practical guide be used monitoring fortunei. The protocol efficient detecting can monitor already infested environments or invasions new environments.