Supporting and optimising the fight against bull frog

Bull frog is an invasive exotic species that has been fought for many years in the province of Antwerp. As traditional monitoring is very labour-intensive, attempts are being made to develop and implement alternative monitoring. This method is based on eDNA, environment DNA that is secreted by bull frogs, both larvae and adult specimens, in the environment where they live. Genetic techniques are then used to test whether we can detect bull frogs. In the first instance, the methodology is developed, verified and validated. Routine testing is performed at a later stage.