Comparing traditional vs. environmental DNA monitoring protocols. The case of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) re-expansion in Central Italy
Simone Giovacchini·Anna Loy·Marco Galaverni·Emiliano Pioltelli·Pamela Monaco·Antonia Daniele Souza Bruno·Pushpinder Singh Jamwal·Antonio Canu·Andrea Galimberti·Mirko Di Febbraro·Enrico Mirone·Francesco Belluardo·Fausto Ramazzotti
Abstract Once widespread in Italy, in the last century the Eurasian otter ( Lutra lutra ) went to the brink of extinction in this country, only surviving in a few southern river basins. Being included in the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, it is mandatory for State Members to monitor its conservation status over time, making cost effective and accurate monitoring protocols a relevant issue. We compared the efficiency of environmental DNA (eDNA) and traditional field survey techniques in detecting