Multiple Materials Enable Passive eDNA Collection
All nine membrane materials collected detectable fish eDNA (Fig. 2). Although significant differences in mean Cq values existed between materials (F = 21.69, df = 11; p < 0.001), with cotton and hemp fibres exhibiting higher mean Cq values, all other materials were similar to each other, including to those obtained from conventionally filtering five 1L samples. Both cotton and hemp were deployed within nylon bags, and the mean Cq values for the nylon bags (22.3, 23.1, 23.7; min, mean, max) were not significantly different than that of the filtered 1L samples (21.1, 23.5, 28.5), nor most other materials. Additionally, the mean Cq values of the nylon bags were lower than that of the zeolite sponge (p = 0.01). The backing plate attached to the electrospun nanofibre covered cellulose membranes did not inhibit eDNA collection, as evidenced by their comparable mean Cq values.