Hawaii Island Environmental Sampler Comparison 2016-2018

These data include metadata and associated data files associated with the manuscript, "Economical Environmental Sampler Designs for Detecting Airborne Spread of Fungi Responsible for Rapid Ohia Death." These data include a total of 8 datasets used for both controlled and field studies evaluating the use of Active (with battery operated fan) and Passive (dependent on wind) USGS Environmental Samplers on Hawaii Island between 2016-2018. Samplers were operated under controlled laboratory and field conditions with a commercial sampler (Rotorod Model 20) to compare efficacy in capturing synthetic polyethylene spheres (12 - 160 µm in diameter) and also Xyleborus spp. boring dust (frass) known to contain the fungi responsible for Rapid Ohia Death (Ceratocystis lukuohia and C. huliohia). Samplers were also tested at a field site with confirmed ROD mortality to demonstrate their ability to detect Ceratocystis DNA in beetle frass from infected trees and wood chips associated with tree felling under a range of environmental conditions. Data files consists of particle counts, particle measurements, and results of qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) tests to determine presence or absence of Ceratocystis DNA on tape strips that were exposed in samplers and tape strips that were spiked with known numbers of Ceratocystis spores to determine sensitivity of the methodology.