Using eDNA to develop a national citizen science-based monitoring programme for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)

The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) is rapidly emerging as a potentially valuable survey technique for

rare or hard to survey freshwater organisms. For the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) in the UK, the

substantial cost and manpower requirements of traditional survey methods have hampered attempts to

assess the status of the species. We tested whether eDNA could provide the basis for a national citizen

science-based monitoring programme for great crested newts by (i) comparing the effectiveness of eDNA

monitoring with torch counts, bottle trapping and egg searches and (ii) assessing the ability of volunteers

to collect eDNA samples throughout the newt’s UK range. In 35 ponds visited four times through the

breeding season, eDNA detected newts on 139 out of 140 visits, a 99.3% detection rate. Bottle traps, torch

counts and egg searches were significantly less effective, detecting newts 76%, 75% and 44% of the time.

eDNA was less successful at predicting newt abundance being positively, but weakly, correlated with

counts of the number of newts. Volunteers successfully collected eDNA samples across the UK with

219 of 239 sites (91.3%) correctly identified as supporting newts. 8.7% of sites generated false negatives,

either because of very small newt populations or practical difficulties in sample collection. There were no

false positives. Overall, we conclude that eDNA is a highly effective survey method and could be used as

the basis for a national great crested newt monitoring programme.