We designed two new samplers for monitoring airborne particulates, including fungal and fern spores and plant pollen, that rely on natural wind currents (Passive Environmental Sampler) or a battery operated fan (Active Environmental Sampler). Both samplers are modeled after commercial devices such as the Rotorod® and the Burkard® samplers, but are more economical and require less maintenance than commercial devices. We compared our two new samplers to Rotorod® samplers using Xyleborus spp. boring dust known to contain ROD causing pathogens. The comparison was done in a large outdoor field cage to determine relative effectiveness of the three samplers for capturing windblown boring dust. The dataset contains results of quantitative PCR (qPCR) tests to determine presence of Ceratocystis lukuohia, Ceratocystis huliohia, and Metrosideros polymorpha DNA in the samplers after release of boring dust over the course of twelve trials where position of samplers was rotated.

These data include metadata and associated data files associated with the manuscript, "Economical Environmental Sampler Designs for Detecting Airborne Spread of Fungi Responsible for Rapid Ohia Death." These data include a total of 8 datasets used for both controlled and field studies evaluating the use of Active (with battery operated fan) and Passive (dependent on wind) USGS Environmental Samplers on Hawaii Island between 2016-2018. Samplers were operated under controlled laboratory and field conditions with a commercial sampler (Rotorod Model 20) to compare efficacy in capturing synthetic polyethylene spheres (12 - 160 µm in diameter) and also Xyleborus spp. boring dust (frass) known to contain the fungi responsible for Rapid Ohia Death (Ceratocystis lukuohia and C. huliohia). Samplers were also tested at a field site with confirmed ROD mortality to demonstrate their ability to detect Ceratocystis DNA in beetle frass from infected trees and wood chips associated with tree felling under a range of environmental conditions. Data files consists of particle counts, particle measurements, and results of qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) tests to determine presence or absence of Ceratocystis DNA on tape strips that were exposed in samplers and tape strips that were spiked with known numbers of Ceratocystis spores to determine sensitivity of the methodology.

This data release includes metadata and tabular datasets that document (1) Austropuccina, Ceratocystis and Myrtaceae qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) DNA detections in Passive Environmental Samplers (PES), (2) wind speed, wind gust speed, and wind direction measurements collected at two sites in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) where paired PES were located, (3) localities, sites and elevations where PES were located, and (4) Genbank accession numbers for Austropuccinia and Ceratocystis DNA sequences amplified from samples collected in a subset of PES. These raw data were analyzed and reported in the manuscript "Environmental Monitoring for Invasive Fungal Pathogens of ʽŌhiʽa (Metrosideros polymorpha) on the Island of Hawaiʽi".

These data contain sample information, locality and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results from extraction and testing of individual tape strips within Passive Environmental Samplers (PES). Samplers were placed at 12 sites on Hawaii Island between 2016 and 2017.

The data being released were part of a project funded by the Section 40804 Ecosystem Restoration of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (PL-117-58) in support of advancing a national revegetation effort. Data included are from a series of DNA degradation experiments targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). This study sought to determine how various environmental conditions may affect eDNA left behind on flowers by bee visitation and thus the impact that may have on monitoring bees via eDNA. The experiments occurred in the laboratory and in the natural environment in 2022 and 2023 using store-bought potted or natural flowers spiked with Apis mellifera DNA. Flower samples were processed to elute DNA, DNA was extracted, and Apis mellifera quantified by qPCR. More information about the individual degradation experiments can be found in the Supplemental Information section.

These data contain the raw quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results for all Ceratocystis lukuohia and huliohia testing of ohia trees, soil, and seedlings.

This is the qPCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) data in support of the article "Validation of a portable eDNA detection kit for invasive carps". There are four types of data contained in five files including: limit of detection analysis for each method (qPCR and LAMP), qPCR analysis and LAMP analysis of eDNA samples collected over time from ponds containing 3 or 33 Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) mixed with thousands of baitfish. The standards and controls data collected with the eDNA sample analysis are split into separate files for each method to simplify the statistical analysis of the eDNA sample data.

Detection of low-density CoTS populations is critical for early warning of outbreaks and can lead to early management interventions (e.g., culling). A lateral flow assay method for eDNA detection was developed using a commercially available nucleic acid lateral flow device (PCRD™) in combination with a previously developed species-specific mtDNA primer. This method was applied to eDNA water samples collected in field locations where CoTS were present in low (=nonoutbreak) population densities to demonstrate the sensitivity of the method to detect these populations. Aquarium raised 6- to 12-month-old juvenile CoTS were used for laboratory testing to prepare dilution series of genomic DNA. A total of 58 water samples were collected from two locations on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia; 40 samples from Big Vicky's Reef in August 2019 and 18 samples from Elizabeth Reef in May 2019. See Doyle and Uthicke (2021) for full sample processing procedures. Each field sample was analysed via ddPCR and PCR/LFA and assay sensitivity was compared as well as an assessment of the cost and time to complete sample analysis. All data associated with this study can be found either in the main text or appendices of Doyle and Uthicke (2021) linked below.

The goal of this study is to determine if there is an association between aerosolized particulate matter (PM) density, wind speed, temperature, humidity, soil-specific parameters, or other site-specific conditions and Coccidioides detection to better understand fungal spore dispersal within the San Joaquin Valley, CA. Soil and filter samples were concurrently collected using an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) equipped with bioaerosol samplers flown synchronously at multiple heights. Samples were assessed for the presence of Coccidioides spores per the cocciENV assay (Bowers et al, 2019). Collection sites included Bakersfield, CA and surrounding Kern County (39 total), with 767 samples collected using an interrupted radial transect design.

In 2010-2013, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) partnered with Utah State University to conduct invasive plant prioritization workshops and inventories on selected National Wildlife Refuges across the United States. The purpose of these workshops and subsequent inventories was to inform and improve the process of planning and implementing invasive plant inventories or early detection. These workshops highlighted the need for an objective, transparent and documented process for deciding which invasive plant species should be a focus of inventory or early detection (and ultimately management) and where. A result of this partnership is the Invasive Plant Inventory and Early Detection Prioritization Tool (IPIEDT) and associated user's guide. The tool is a Microsoft Access database (2010 or later) that utilizes site-specific knowledge and harnesses existing invasive plant information (invasive species risk rankings) to identify priority species and areas for inventory or early detection. The tool produces a ranked list of areas and invasive plant species to consider for inventory or early detection. Once the location and abundance of priority invasive plants are understood, this information can be used to decide what specific management strategies should be employed and where. Interior 1 Regional and Refuge staff used the database developed by Utah State and the Pacific Southwest Region to prioritize invasives species at Stewart B. McKinney. The attached products are the result of that prioritization.