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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article

Front. Conserv. Sci.
Sec. Animal Conservation
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2025.1431348

Development and validation of rapid eDNA detection method for yellow mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens: A field study in south Texas, USA

Provisionally accepted
Sakib Tahmid Rishan Sakib Tahmid Rishan Richard J Kline Richard J Kline MD Saydur Rahman MD Saydur Rahman *
  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The conservation of freshwater turtle species depends on precise and effective monitoring techniques.Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a potential method for identifying cryptic and elusive turtle species in aquatic ecosystems. eDNA analysis can help to identify key regions for conservation efforts and monitor changes in population levels over time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid eDNA detection method for the yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens, an indicator species that is endangered in some states in the USA), which inhabits local oxbow lakes (e.g., resacas) in Cameron County, South Texas. A species-specific nested PCR assay was designed to enhance the detection of yellow mud turtle species. Water samples were collected from five locations within Cameron County for the detection of yellow mud turtle eDNA. Our results revealed the presence of yellow mud turtles in two out of the five surveyed locations. Our study shows great potential for eDNA monitoring for yellow mud turtle species. This study also provides insights on using eDNA monitoring to protect yellow mud turtle species and recommendations for future research and conservation initiatives.

    Keywords: cyt b, cytochrome b, eDNA, environmental eDNA, IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, NCBI, National Center for Biotechnology Information, PCR, polymerase chain reaction, qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction environmental DNA, biodiversity monitoring, nature conservation, global ecology, mud turtles

    Received: 11 May 2024; Accepted: 06 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Rishan, Kline and Rahman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: MD Saydur Rahman, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.