Development of species-specific eDNA-based test systems for monitoring of non-indigenous species in Danish marine waters

Abstract

The MONIS 3 project reports the development of 22 species-specific eDNA-based test systems for monitoring and mapping of the occurrence of non-indigenous species in Danish marine waters. The development has been undertaken by the MONIS partnership and the species have been selected based on the outcome of the MONIS 2 project. It should be noted that the test systems are considered operational cf. the MONIS definition (see Chapter 1). It should also be noted that the 22 test systems have been applied in the MONIS 4 project, where monitoring of 16 Danish harbours have been carried out to map occurrence of nonindigenous marine species using both conventional methods and molecular methods (eDNA). Development of additional test systems is being planned and expected to be carried out in 2019 pending funding. The MONIS partnership encourages interested institutions, especially in neighbouring countries (Germany, Norway, Poland and Sweden) to make use of the test systems.