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Abstract
The use of eDNA for the detection of imperiled and/or difficult to detect species has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. In this study, we designed and tested a species specific eDNA marker to aid in the detection and conservation of an imperiled Southeastern fish, the Robust Redhorse (Moxostoma robustum). We investigated the effects of fish density and turbidity on eDNA degradation to better understand how to use eDNA tools in highly turbid and dynamic aquatic environments like those in the Southeastern U.S. We found that eDNA degredation rates in our study resound with the majority of the current literature, and that fish density, sediment, primer selection, and experimental vessel size all had significant effects on eDNA detection odds. With this study we hope to aid in the monitoring of an imperiled, charismatic Southeastern fish and inform future work on the capabilities of eDNA as a conservation tool.