DMP for "A stitch in time saves nine - Developing a novel management framework for aquatic invasive alien species based on eDNA methods"

This strategic project aims at further developing and tailoring eDNA-based
methods, and ultimately embeding them as a corner stone in a decision suport system that can be used by managers to prevent invasion or facilitate eradication of an aquatic alien invasive species. More specifically, using the American bullfrog invasion in Belgium as a case study, environmental DNA (eDNA)-based methods are developed and combined with other techniques to (1) detect and quantify the density of aquatic alien invasive species (AIS), (2) reconstruct the invasion history, (3) determine the ecological impact on indigenous communities, and (4) forecast future spread.This project involves a close interplay between pure scientific research and the application of the generated results in practice, which is facilitated by the joint collaboration between the University of Leuven (KUL) and the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO).