Fish DNA in Ozark streams reveals region’s complex geologic history

Researchers collected water samples from six rivers and streams in the Missouri Ozarks to detect the presence of fish species through their environmental DNA (eDNA).

Environmental DNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their surroundings, such as skin cells or waste, which can be detected in water samples without needing to physically observe or capture the species.

The team identified several species considered at risk in Missouri, including the lake sturgeon, crystal darter, and Alabama shad.

Notably, they also found DNA from a cave-dwelling fish, the Salem Plateau cavefish, in a surface water sample from an underground spring, a discovery that would have been impossible using traditional methods like netting or visual surveys.