2| MATERIALS AND METHODS
The following workflow was developed by considering prevailing qPCR guidelines , as well as more recent adaptations to environmental DNA screening , while integrating the use of a High-Throughput qPCR platform. As described in detail below, the workflow was subdivided into three main phases consisting of the definition of target taxa and establishment of reference databases (PHASE 1); in silicoselection and in vitro assessment of molecular assays (PHASE 2); and field testing and validation (PHASE 3) (Figure 1 ).