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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!
Header Image: Benjamin Barca
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
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data scientist/algorithmic dev - caught fire for movement ecology
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Assistant Professor studying Primate Molecular Health at Itwara Forest in Uganda and AZA-accredited zoos.
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WILDLABS
I'm the Community Manager at WILDLABS
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Danau Girang Field Center & Cardiff University
Conservation biologist and PhD student specialising in movement ecology and behavioural research on Sunda pangolins in Malaysia Borneo. Using camera traps, biologging, and conservation social science.
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Careers
Multiple positions open at NatureMetrics
Carly Batist
Positions include ecological data scientist, bioinformatician, metabarcoding assay developer, bioinformatics engineer, marine eDNA product scientist & more
04 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
Careers
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.
06 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...
06 April 2021
Community Announcement
Whether you spent the last year working in the field, lab, at home, or virtually, the WILDLABS community's conservation tech achievements were on full display in our annual #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge! Relive our...
25 March 2021
Article
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...
05 November 2020
Funding
Competition: 2020 Hackaday Prize
Conservation X Labs
The 2020 Hackaday Prize competition has begun! This year, Conservation X Labs has partnered with the Hackaday Prizes as one of four nonprofits seeking tech-based solutions to urgent challenges. Conservation X Labs'...
26 May 2020
Article
The WILDLABS TECH HUB is supporting technology solutions tackling the illegal wildlife trade, in collaboration with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Digital Catapult, Satellite Applications Catapult, Amazon Web...
04 June 2019
Article
Meet the WILDLABS TECH HUB Winners
WILDLABS Team
In February, we released an open call for the WILDLABS TECH HUB, offering 3 months of support for solutions using technolgy to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. We were overwhelmed by an incredible 37 submissions,...
13 May 2019
Article
FIT Cheetahs
Larissa Slaney
A new research project is looking to investigate whether technology combined with the ancient skills and knowledge of Namibian trackers can help save cheetahs from extinction. Called FIT Cheetahs, the research project...
04 December 2017
| Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 weeks 2 days ago | |
| Hello Wildlabbers! This week's Tech Tutor Arnaud Lyet will lead us through how to use eDNA for... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 8 months ago | |
| Posting for a labmate. La encuesta está en inglés, pero se ha proporcionado una traducción en español (ver adjunto). Al contestar la encuesta, se... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 1 year 1 month 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 | 1 year 10 months 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 6 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 2 months ago | |
| Interesting new article on in-the-field DNA analysis. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 years 8 months ago | |
| ... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 4 months ago | |
| Please share your experiences and how you are using eDNA. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 5 months ago | |
| There will be an eDNA talk at the Mares Conference, February 1st to 5th 2016, Olhão, Portugal The talk is titled: "Species detections in environmental DNA using... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 5 months ago | |
| Article about Claude Miaud's presentation at the Fuller Symposium: https://www.wildlabs.net/resources/thought-pieces/biodiversity-drop-water-new-opportunity-edna |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 5 months ago |
Cofounder needed
9th June 2022 at 04:23pm
17th June 2022 at 06:54pm
How exciting @Joyeeta ! I'd love to learn more about the companies and projects you worked on, can you share more info about them?
I once chatted to an entrepreneurial advisor with a couple of my conservation tech ideas, and he said my ideas are good/impactful but don't make for a product worth millions of $$$ of turnover per year that would interest investors. So I am very curious about how you got your conservation tech businesses off the ground!
18th June 2022 at 08:33pm
Some folks doing work in this space - Wildlife Drones, Conservation Drones, UAV Wild, AfricanDrones, Oceans Unmanned, Geonadir.
Multiple positions open at NatureMetrics
4th June 2022 at 12:41pm
New wildlife forensics lab - Singapore
29th May 2022 at 12:34pm
Opportunity: Product Design Engineer
NatureMetrics
6th April 2022 at 12:00am
News: The Latest in Conservation Tech
WILDLABS Team
10th March 2022 at 12:00am
Measuring biodiversity from DNA in the air
bioRxiv
27th January 2022 at 12:00am
Tech Tutors: How do I use eDNA in large-scale monitoring of terrestrial mammals?
21st October 2021 at 12:26pm
How do I use eDNA in large-scale monitoring of terrestrial mammals?
Arnaud Lyet
13th October 2021 at 12:00am
WILDLABS Tech Tutors: Season 3
WILDLABS Team
6th July 2021 at 12:00am
PhD Survey - Use of genetic tools in aquatic invasive species management
12th May 2021 at 03:25pm
New Article: Environmental DNA Metabarcoding
WILDLABS Team
6th April 2021 at 12:00am
The 2021 #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Community Highlights
25th March 2021 at 12:00am
17th June 2022 at 01:14pm
What about developing a drone conservation training course for field conservation staff teaching specific skills for specific research needs.