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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Do you have photos and videos of your conservation tech work? We want to include them in a conservation technology showcase video
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A set of highly discriminating STR DNA markers developed in a collaboration between the SASA wildlife forensics lab and University of Leicester researchers is being used to detect laundering of wild peregrine falcons...
13 February 2024
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Island Conservation's Innovation Team is dedicated to developing innovative, data-driven tools to increase the scale, scope, and pace of island restorations around the world. As the Conservation Innovation Manager, you...
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The guide considers four different types of samples (water, sediments, invertebrate collections and diatoms), and two primary analysis types (single species detection via methods such as qPCR and assessment of...
23 February 2023
The Environmental Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich welcomes applications for a postdoctoral fellowship on robotics methods for the collection of environmental DNA to automate monitoring of biodiversity in terrestrial...
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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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 | 4 years 5 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 | 6 years 1 month ago | |
Interesting new article on in-the-field DNA analysis. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 years 7 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 | 8 years 3 months ago | |
Please share your experiences and how you are using eDNA. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 8 years 3 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 | 8 years 3 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 | 8 years 4 months ago | |
Thank you for sharing! |
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eDNA & Genomics | 8 years 5 months ago | |
Dear eDNA community, Take a look at this eDNA news blog: http://www.spygen.com/blog/ |
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eDNA & Genomics | 8 years 5 months ago | |
eDNA is a complex topic and getting a start in the field can be intimidating. However, this excellent review from 2014 can be very... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 8 years 5 months ago |
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Thanks so much!!
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Hi - is a recording of this session (Using eDNA in large-scale monitoring) still available?
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It is! Here you go:
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eDNA Future applications
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31 January 2019 10:28pm
Hi Yvan,
This is Federico from IVE. The OSMO is being continuously developed and we have a couple of dozen units currently collecting samples/data around the world. It's also relatively cheap as it was designed with citizen scientists in mind. Maybe we could skype for additional details?
Cheers
5 February 2019 3:32pm
Hi Federico,
That's great to hear. Yes, let's skype. I'll send you my info by personal message.
Best
26 May 2022 5:05pm
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/doi/epdf/10.1111/1755-0998.13604
The group createda proof of concept of a passive, 3D-printed and easy-to-use eDNA sampler: "We designed the samplers from hydroxyapatite (HAp samplers), a natural mineral with a high DNA adsorption capacity. The porous structure and shape of the samplers were designed to optimize DNA adsorption and facilitate their handling in the laboratory and in the field. Here we show that HAp samplers can efficiently collect genomic DNA in controlled set-ups, but can also collect animal eDNA under controlled and natural conditions with yields similar to conventional methods. However, we also observed large variations in the amount of DNA collected even under controlled conditions. A better understanding of the DNA–hydroxyapatite interactions on the surface of the samplers is now necessary to optimize eDNA adsorption and to allow the development of a reliable, easy-to-use and reusable eDNA sampling tool."
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Congrats on the milestone Carly and Gracie!