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 ).