Environmental DNA shedding and degradation rates of Epioblasma capsaeformis in a laboratory setting

Data describe designed environmental DNA (eDNA) experiments for the estimation of eDNA shedding and degradation rates for the Oyster Mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis) at different biomass densities from water samples collected in the laboratory. A total of 12 experimental tanks (3 per biomass treatment) were used and randomly assigned one of the following biomass treatments: control = 0 mussels, low = 1 mussel, medium = 3 mussels, and high = 9 mussels per tank. Mussels were housed in experimental tanks for 14 days. Water samples were collected from days 7-14 for shedding rate experiments. After 14 days, mussels were removed. The three high biomass tanks and one control tank were maintained an additional 4 weeks without mussels for degradation rate experiments. Data include descriptions of laboratory collected water samples that were tested to estimate concentration of E. capsaeformis DNA, qPCR results and associated quality assurance measurements.