Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

My research project focuses on investigating factors affecting eDNA detectability to determine current habitat requirements and the extant distribution of two rare fishes: the Duskytail Darter (Etheostoma percnurum) in Copper Creek, Virginia and the Chucky Madtom (Noturus crypticus) in Little Chucky Creek, Tennessee. Our goal is to develop occupancy modelling centered around eDNA and remotely sourced ecological data. This will help us understand the parameters of eDNA as a tool for the detection of small, rare fishes and inform mangers of potential reintroduction sites for the Duskytail Darter and the presence of the potentially extirpated Chucky Madtom.