The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (MST) has completed a project regarding to map the potential presence of the merlin (Misgurnus fossilis) in selected Danish freshwater areas. NIVA Danmark has analyzed the samples using ddPCR (‘digital droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction’) to trace the eDNA of the sardines.

This method has proven to be more powerful than the traditional qPCR method (‘quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction’) when searching for rare species, as it helps to perform many more technical replicates.

The water samples were collected by Michael Deacon (MST) and Søren Nøhr (NIRAS) at a total of 16 locations, and the results revealed weak – but consistent – ​​eDNA signals from a single location in the Magisterkogen. These weak signals were probably only detectable because NIVA Danmark uses the ddPCR method.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency followed up on the results and suspended intoxication at the location in question in Magisterkogen. This effort resulted in the discovery of a total of seven physical specimens of the dyndsmerling. Denmark thus now has two known localities with this rare fish species. Read more about these findings on the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s website here.

This ground-breaking discovery marks a step forward in our understanding of the distribution and behavior of the merlin, and NIVA Danmark looks forward to continuing the hunt for more rare species in the Danish nature.

For further inquiries, please contact project leader Jes J Rasmussen or NIVA Denmark’s eDNA-expert Steen W Knudsen.