Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is a molecular sampling technology that collects information about organisms using DNA shed by them into their environment. While eDNA holds exciting potential to become an efficient, low-cost, non-invasive ecological monitoring method, a lack of standardization of approaches and purpose-built sampling equipment make it hard to compare results and determine its actual effectiveness across studies. Detection success and accuracy also vary greatly among species and environments, making standardization a challenge.
However, as eDNA moves toward becoming an industry standard method for species detection and management, the equipment is beginning to transition from largely do-it-yourself experimental contraptions to professionally engineered tools. For example, Smith-Root Inc. recently developed the first-ever purpose-built eDNA sampling system, which they call ANDe™. We’re also seeing an expansion of eDNA applications from mainly marine to freshwater and even terrestrial environments, although the latter still requires substantial growth.
As this nascent field develops, it is critical for the conservation tech community to explore and identify how eDNA applies to management needs, and to ensure that continued development meets those needs. Beyond indicating species presence, research so far suggests that eDNA can contribute to conservation by deepening understanding of population dynamics, resource usage, disease presence, invasion pathways of non-native species, and population genetics, to name a few. This indicates that it could be a critical tool for managing imperiled and invasive species.
If you're new to eDNA and genomics, check out our Tech Tutors episode "How Do I Use Portable Genomics in the Field?" featuring Ineke Knot. You'll also find a bank of resources on that page, including a handy glossary of terms in our collaborative notes document!
Does your work involve eDNA and genomics, or are you curious about incorporating this type of technology into your field or lab work? Start a discussion in our group forum!
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Careers
The Senior Conservation Technology Specialist will be responsible for providing technical advice and capacity development to GWP project teams on conservation technology, distilling challenges and lessons from project...
22 September 2022
2
Funding
The European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+, co-funded by the European Union, has launched a call for research proposals on “Improved transnational monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem change for science and...
14 September 2022
1
Careers
Conservation Technology Research Internship
Meredith Palmer
Boost cons tech capacity at an international NGO! Fauna & Flora International is offering a paid three-month internship to consolidate and share best practices for the application of emerging hardware and software...
26 August 2022
2
Careers
Post Doctoral researcher - DNA species detection technology
Natalie Schmitt
Are you interested in joining a team dedicated to changing how conservation is conducted around the world by developing new genetic technologies for conservation, and being part of the new wave of scientists paving a...
15 August 2022
Careers
eDNA Postdoc in Seattle
Kate Bertko
Postdoc position focused on marine mammals, oceanography and eDNA!
15 July 2022
1
Careers
Multiple positions open at NatureMetrics
Carly Batist
Positions include ecological data scientist, bioinformatician, metabarcoding assay developer, bioinformatics engineer, marine eDNA product scientist & more
4 June 2022
Article
New wildlife forensics lab - Singapore
Carly Batist
Mongabay article on the recently launched Centre for Wildlife Forensics in Singapore, noting their successes so far in catching wildlife traffickers and uncovering trafficking routes
29 May 2022
1
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Opportunity: Product Design Engineer
NatureMetrics
NatureMetrics is now seeking a Product Design Engineer to help develop a product range focused on rapid in-field methods to detect species from environmental samples.
6 April 2022
Article
News: The Latest in Conservation Tech
WILDLABS Team
Check out this round-up of three of the latest news stories from the conservation tech world. See more conservation tech news by subscribing to our bi-monthly digest.
10 March 2022
Article
This paper explores ground-breaking advances in terrestrial biomonitoring, demonstrating how DNA from terrestrial animals can be collected from the air under natural conditions.
27 January 2022
Article
New Article: Environmental DNA Metabarcoding
WILDLABS Team
Check out the new research article "Environmental DNA metabarcoding as a useful tool for evaluating terrestrial mammal diversity in tropical forests." Recently published in Ecological Society of America's Ecological...
6 April 2021
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In this news article by Rutherford Discovery Fellow Emma Carroll, we learn about how genomics and satellite data are helping researchers gain a new understanding of southern right whale population recovery, migration...
5 November 2020
July 2021
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanks so much!! |
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Acoustic Monitoring, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Camera Traps, Community Base, Data management and processing tools , Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Open Source Solutions, Remote Sensing & GIS, Software and Mobile Apps | 9 hours 57 minutes ago | |
| It is! Here you go: |
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eDNA & Genomics | 1 month 4 weeks ago | |
| @gracieermi & I are happy to announce the latest update to the Conservation Tech Directory, bringing our total resources in the... |
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Acoustic Monitoring, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Camera Traps, Community Base, Data management and processing tools , Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Remote Sensing & GIS, Software and Mobile Apps | 2 months 4 weeks ago | |
| Some folks doing work in this space - Wildlife Drones, Conservation Drones, UAV Wild, AfricanDrones, Oceans Unmanned, Geonadir. |
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Drones, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech | 3 months 1 week ago | |
| New paper by Héloïse Verdier of LEHNA lab: Passive sampling of environmental DNA in aquatic environments using 3D-printed hydroxyapatite samplers https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 months ago | |
| Posting for a labmate. La encuesta está en inglés, pero se ha proporcionado una traducción en español (ver... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 1 year 4 months ago | |
| Hi Wildlabbers, Ineke's episode is up on our Youtube now! Follow this link or watch it below. You can also find our collaborative notes from this episode here (where you... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 2 years 1 month ago | |
| Ah! Well you're in luck.. We're doing acoustics first thing next year. Late January some time, so in good time for your field season. We also had the audiomoth team give a... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 2 years 9 months ago | |
| Hi Emily, Rachel has some practical suggestions about rigging your current centrifuge up to fit the small tubes. What do you think - vIable? 1) If you're... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 years 5 months ago | |
| Interesting new article on in-the-field DNA analysis. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 years 11 months ago | |
| This could be huge for monitoring territorial species, not to mention have the potential to reduce the number of... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 7 months ago | |
| Please share your experiences and how you are using eDNA. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 8 months ago |
Senior Conservation Technology Expert Position (Consultancy) with the Global Wildlife Program
22 September 2022 at 05:35pm
New paper: Environmental DNA as a management tool for tracking artificial waterhole use in savanna ecosystems
19 September 2022 at 02:43pm
From Max Farrell on Twitter: "New paper comparing eDNA and camera traps for tracking waterhole visitation. We took pictures, analyzed DNA in drinking water, built a reference library for vertebrates in the Kruger, and asked how well these tools work (and why!)"
Scientists Solve Mount Everest Wildlife Mysteries Through the Use of eDNA
14 September 2022 at 02:53pm
A team of scientists headed by WCS and Appalachian State University employed environmental DNA (eDNA) to record the breadth of high-alpine biodiversity on Mount Everest.
CFP - transnational biodiversity monitoring (from European Biodiversity Partnership)
14 September 2022 at 01:42pm
Conservation Tech Directory - new update!
29 August 2022 at 02:38pm
26 September 2022 at 10:07pm
Thanks so much!!
23 September 2022 at 05:26pm
Congrats on the milestone Carly and Gracie!