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Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is an emerging approach for the detection of whole biological communities from environmental bulk samples. This method is gaining acceptance towards broader application as a fish biomonitoring tool in Canada. However, species detections are often not congruent with conventional methods, which calls for further validation studies. In this thesis, I investigate the impact of sediment resuspension on species detection using eDNA metabarcoding and evaluate congruence with conventional methods. I found that sediment resuspension had a minimal effect on species detection. However, false negatives occurred for two species. To investigate the occurrence of false negatives across Canadian freshwater fishes, I collated species detections from five studies. I found that ~50% of species are affected by taxonomic blind spots arising from various sources. This thesis demonstrates the capabilities and limitations of eDNA metabarcoding for Canadian freshwater fish biomonitoring and proposes solutions to address taxonomic blind spots. Environment and Climate Change Canada Strategic Technology Applications of Genomics in the Environment (STAGE) Program; Environment and Climate Change Canada Research Affiliate Program (RAP); Agnico Eagle; Ages Foundation Research Fellowship & Bursaries Program |
