Don't choose sample volumes for #eDNA arbitrarily anymore!
We've been simulating sample volumes for a mesocosm #eDNA test with our new tool that takes into account stochastic processes. The goal is to find a single compromise volume expected to yield 100% detection probability for all species involved. The volume to sample as suggested by literature reviews was less than 1/10th the volume that simulations would suggest. #WIP #newtool #speciesdetection

Simulating sample volumes for a 5 species mesocosm #eDNA test with our new tool. The goal of this test is to find the single compromise volume expected to yield 100% detection probability for all 5 species. The volume is much bigger than you might think based on the literature recommendations.
#speciesdetection

The plot shows what detection probabilities can look like for 5 "species", all having the same shedding and decay rates, but only the number of individuals changes. The shifts in the curves are explained by both the different abundances and the stochastic nature of the processes modeled.

#modelling #ecology #speciesdetection