About This Project

Hastings Reserve is home to three streams that provide critical habitat for sensitive native species. Through the use of eDNA sequencing in stream channels, we hypothesize that we will confirm the presence of two threatened species, the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) and Central Coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This will inform conservation planning and habitat restoration, particularly with respect to reducing human impacts on these fragile ecosystems.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Surveying for biodiversity in California, the nation's most species-rich state, is no small feat. Traditional survey methods are time-intensive and invasive, which is difficult when the species of interest are rare or protected. New methods offer more efficient ways of detecting species presence, with minimal disturbance to the organism and ecosystem. Environmental DNA (eDNA) provides an informative, non-invasive approach to identifying plants, animals, and fungi from traces left in the environment.

We propose to use eDNA to survey for two threatened vertebrates at Hastings Reserve, in central Monterey County, CA: 1. Foothill yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylii) and 2. Central coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). We hope to determine the efficacy of using eDNA to detect threatened aquatic species. We hypothesize that eDNA will 1. confirm the presence of these species and 2. serve as a cost-effective tool for identifying and monitoring yellow legged frogs and steelhead in the future.

What is the significance of this project?

Foothill yellow-legged frogs have been documented at Hastings Reserve, although have not been seen in many years. Hastings is situated between the South Coast (endangered) and Central Coast (threatened) distinct populations segments for this species and the presence of yellow-legged frogs may indicate an important linkage between the South and Central Coast populations.

Central coast steelhead are threatened, and are known to spawn in Finch Creek on Hastings Reserve, but the extent to which this species uses the smaller seasonal creeks on the reserve as refugia and rearing habitat is unknown.

An awareness of the presence or absence of these species will provide a more complete picture of the aquatic ecosystem at the reserve, which will be useful for future visiting researchers. Additionally, if these species are detected, we can prioritize habitat improvement projects and install signage to minimize the impacts of reserve visitors on sensitive habitats.

What are the goals of the project?

Our aim is to collect water samples at each of three streams at Hastings Reserve, during two different time periods. Our samples will be analyzed for evidence of yellow-legged frogs and/or Central Coast Steelhead. By testing at two time periods we hope to maximize detection probabilities, as well as provide insight into how different species use our streams at different times of years.

We are also excited to explore eDNA as a research tool. Reserves and other protected areas are crucial for long term monitoring, however staffing and resources are rarely adequate for systematic, time intensive field surveys. eDNA could allow for a more focused examination of species of interest to help target conservation and restoration activities.