DMARINE - eDNA Arctica

Description

The Offshore Wind Directorate requires a suitable supplier to develop and validate a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay and analyse benthic sediment samples, collected by the Marine Directorate, for presence of ocean quahog (Arctica islandica). Ocean quahog is a Priority Marine Feature (PMF) in Scottish waters, on the OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species & Habitats and a Protected Feature in some Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Some activities associated with Marine Renewable (MR) developments may interact with this species. Cost-effective tools, which can be utilized as part of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to reliably determine presence of ocean quahog are needed to mitigate the potential impact of MR developments in the marine environment. This tender will contribute to our understanding of effectiveness of the environmental DNA (eDNA)-based approach to monitor the presence of ocean quahog in sediment samples and whether this monitoring approach could be employed as a robust and reliable tool for use in EIAs. Lot 1: The Offshore Wind Directorate requires a supplier who can deliver the contract in the follow stages - develop and validate a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for detecting ocean quahog and produce a full method statement, followed by DNA extraction from 52 sediment samples (30 mL scrapes collected from the top 5 cm using a Day Grab). The supplier will then analyse the samples using the developed assay , and a final report will be submitted along with the raw qPCR data.