Data on the detection of Cumberlandia monodonta using a designed environmental DNA (eDNA) survey upstream and downstream of known populations in the Big Piney River, Missouri (2020 – 2022)

Data describe a designed environmental DNA (eDNA) survey for the detection of Spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta, also referred to as Margaritifera monodonta) from field collected water samples. Parameters described include the limit of detection and limit of quantification of the assay; a list of freshwater mussel species tissue samples that were used to test specificity of the assay; and field collected water samples that were tested to detect the presence of Spectaclecase DNA. Samples were collected from sites on the Big Piney River, Missouri from 2020 to 2022, and the Clinch River, Tennessee from 2019 to 2021.