Data included are from a series of field sample collections from Lakes Michigan and Huron, and laboratory mesocosms targeting the round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus). The round goby is a benthic fish that has heavily invaded four of the five Laurentian Great Lakes. Because it inhabits a variety of substrates, including coastal breakwaters, traditional methods (e.g., trawling, trapping) are inadequate to quantify overall population size. Environmental DNA (eDNA) may be a viable option for improving detection and quantification of the species. Field data include number of round goby caught and associated ambient conditions of the aquatic matrix (temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen). Mesocosm data include information about mesocosm test (DNA shedding, decay), information about the individual fish used (length, weight), ambient conditions of the aqueous matrix (pH, turbidity). Data from laboratory testing of both field and mesocosm water include results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of round goby-specific DNA (DNA quality, quantity). Data are being used to correlate round goby individuals with eDNA present in the water and to calculate rates of DNA shedding by the round goby and rates of DNA decay.

This data set is associated with an examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) from the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in parallel with traditional fish surveys in the Great Lakes. Data resulting from bottom trawling surveys and angler hook and line methods include round goby fish count and biomass at different depths and seasons at multiple sites of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan (trawls), and breakwall locations of Lake Michigan at Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana (angling). Data from eDNA water samples targeting round goby were analyzed by two molecular methods: droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR); eDNA copy numbers are presented for both these methods separately.

This data set is associated with an examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) from the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in parallel with traditional fish surveys in the Great Lakes. Data resulting from bottom trawling surveys and angler hook and line methods include round goby fish count and biomass at different depths and seasons at multiple sites of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan (trawls), and breakwall locations of Lake Michigan at Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana (angling). Data from eDNA water samples targeting round goby were analyzed by two molecular methods: droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR); eDNA copy numbers are presented for both these methods separately.

The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collected from two Lake Michigan shoreline locations (Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana) to examine the detectability of eDNA, the influence of sediment on eDNA estimates, and eDNA spatial and temporal resolution. The field samples for stream transport (water) were collected from Brown Ditch, a Lake Michigan stream, and were used to model and test eDNA transport. Rates for eDNA shedding and decay in water and sediment were developed using in vitro laboratory experiments and provided a comparison of eDNA behavior (persistence and degradation) and detection in water and sediment.

The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collected from two Lake Michigan shoreline locations (Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana) to examine the detectability of eDNA, the influence of sediment on eDNA estimates, and eDNA spatial and temporal resolution. The field samples for stream transport (water) were collected from Brown Ditch, a Lake Michigan stream, and were used to model and test eDNA transport. Rates for eDNA shedding and decay in water and sediment were developed using in vitro laboratory experiments and provided a comparison of eDNA behavior (persistence and degradation) and detection in water and sediment.

This dataset is associated with an examination of environmental DNA (eDNA) from the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in parallel with visual surveys of fish count and size conducted by scuba divers in four Great Lakes: Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Round goby inhabits benthic areas, and it is known to have direct contact with the bottom substrate as it feeds on dreissenid mussels. Considering this, eDNA samples were derived from multiple substrates: lake bottom water, sediment, and benthic algae; each manually collected by scuba divers from 3 or 6-meter depths and eight distinct transects. eDNA samples were analyzed by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and results are expressed as DNA Copy Numbers (CN) per 1 mL of water or per 1 gram of wet weight of sediment or benthic algae. All eDNA samples for this dataset were collected alongside a larger body of work conducted in 2022 (https://doi.org/10.5066/P13JDUMH) and relate to multiple years of work at these stations that includes: algal and dreissenid mussel biomass, water quality assessments, and diver observations of dreissenid mussels, round gobies, benthic substrate, and benthic algal cover. We refer to the benthic algae also as the 'Cladophora community' and 'submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)' in other published project data, which were collected starting in 2018 (Great Lakes Science Center, 2018).

Annual spring (May) and fall (late October through early November) gillnet assessment surveys were conducted by researchers at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) in northern Lake Michigan, including the Northern Refuge, between 1998-2024. Total length, weight, sex, maturity, and sea lamprey wounds were recorded for each lake trout and burbot caught in the gill nets. Lake trout were aged: (1) by decoding information on an extracted coded wire tag; (2) using fin clip information; or (3) enumerating annuli on a maxilla bone. Burbot were aged by enumerating annuli on an otolith. Catch of both lake trout and burbot have been recorded for each of the gill nets that have been set.

Annual spring (May) and fall (late October through early November) gillnet assessment surveys were conducted by researchers at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) in northern Lake Michigan, including the Northern Refuge, between 1998-2023. Total length, weight, sex, maturity, and sea lamprey wounds were recorded for each lake trout and burbot caught in the gill nets. Lake trout were aged: (1) by decoding information on an extracted coded wire tag; (2) using fin clip information; or (3) enumerating annuli on a maxilla bone. Burbot were aged by enumerating annuli on an otolith. Catch of both lake trout and burbot have been recorded for each of the gill nets that have been set. To study the dynamics of the lake trout and burbot populations in the Northern Refuge, these gillnet survey data have been analyzed and the results interpreted.

Annual spring (May) and fall (late October through early November) gillnet assessment surveys were conducted by researchers at the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) in northern Lake Michigan, including the Northern Refuge, between 1998-2023. Total length, weight, sex, maturity, and sea lamprey wounds were recorded for each lake trout and burbot caught in the gill nets. Lake trout were aged: (1) by decoding information on an extracted coded wire tag; (2) using fin clip information; or (3) enumerating annuli on a maxilla bone. Burbot were aged by enumerating annuli on an otolith. Catch of both lake trout and burbot have been recorded for each of the gill nets that have been set. To study the dynamics of the lake trout and burbot populations in the Northern Refuge, these gillnet survey data have been analyzed and the results interpreted.

The dataset is composed of four tables containing environmental DNA (eDNA) data, fish capture data, and site location information from Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) surveys conducted on parts of the Champlain Canal and upper Hudson River, and adjacent areas, in New York during 2022, 2023, and 2024.