Biological monitoring programs are essential foundations for effective management of estuaries and coasts, but they can be expensive to conduct and may be traumatic for the target species. Advancements in DNA methods now make it possible to identify the organisms in an area by the DNA they leave behind, but sampling and analytical methods needs to be carefully designed for use in different contexts.

About this resource

This project overview describes how a 2017 Collaborative Research project piloted and refined DNA-based monitoring protocols that can be applied to specific issues and species of interest in estuarine ecosystems. The overview highlights the project approach, products and benefits for the Reserve System and other users.