Hello, my name is Maïwenn, and I am a French volunteer working on the ZDrauA project: Next-Generation Biomonitoring of the Drava/Drau for Sustainable and Healthy Regional Development.

I am based in Klagenfurt, Austria, at the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences. The ZDrauA project aims to monitor biodiversity and pathogens along the Drava River, which flows through Austria and into Slovenia. My role is to develop protocols for detecting three invasive species. Invasive species are organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem and cause ecological harm, in this case, two freshwater mussels and one freshwater crustacean: Dreissena polymorpha, Dreissena bugensis, and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes. To do so, I use environmental DNA (eDNA) methodology, and more specifically quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). The process involves collecting water samples from the river, which contain trace amounts of DNA shed by organisms.

This DNA is then extracted and amplified using a species-specific fluorescent signal, which allows us to obtain a relative concentration of the target DNA — serving as an indicator of the species’ abundance in the river. This approach is intended to enable rapid sample analysis and early detection of these species, which is critical for effective management, as invasive species are most successfully controlled when identified at an early stage.

The protocols I am developing will ultimately be made available to local stakeholders and any other parties with an interest in monitoring these species. During this experience, I learned the fundamentals of molecular biology techniques, applied the eDNA method, and explored a new region from an ecological perspective. I feel very grateful to be contributing to this project, as it allows me to expand my knowledge while putting my scientific background to use. This experience has made me more confident in my identity as an ecologist.