Freshwater Mussel Distribution in New Brunswick via eDNA Surveys, 2017-2024

Fisheries and Oceans Canada collected environmental DNA (eDNA) survey data from 2017 to 2024 to assess the distribution of freshwater mussels in New Brunswick. The dataset includes results for species such as the Brook Floater, Eastern Pearlshell, and Yellow Lampmussel, using species-specific qPCR assays. Data is available in CSV and ESRI REST formats under an OGL-CA-2.0 license.

Use Cases

• Modeling species distribution for conservation planning based on eDNA detection data.
• Assessing the presence and range of specific mussel species like the Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa).
• Comparing traditional survey methods with environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for freshwater monitoring.
• Analyzing temporal trends in mussel populations from 2017 to 2024 survey work.

Strengths

• Data collection spans a 7-year period from 2017 to 2024, providing a temporal perspective.
• Focuses on specific at-risk or notable mussel species (e.g., Brook Floater, Eastern Pearlshell).
• Uses modern environmental DNA (eDNA) methodology for species detection.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description encourages contacting the data custodian for appropriate use, indicating potential access or interpretation constraints.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys and species-specific qPCR assays.

Time Range

2017 to 2024

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-08 18:30:58.154727; freshness should be verified.

Geography

New Brunswick, Canada