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
Am a conservation biologist/primatologist passionate about conservation of endangered species, biodiversity monitoring, climate change studies and local livelihoods
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
Postdoc using genomics and ancient DNA to help conserve a critically endangered cockatoo species
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 1 Groups
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- 0 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 9 Groups
World Wide Fund for Nature/ World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- 0 Resources
- 2 Discussions
- 9 Groups
- @shouldusedecimal
- | he/him
- 0 Resources
- 3 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- @andoshah
- | he/him
Environmental Data Scientist @ UC Berkeley
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 2 Groups
- @fuzzyatelin
- | he/they
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) & National Geographic Society
Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Biology at Boston University studying non-human primate genomics and evolution.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 6 Groups
- @JennaSea
- | she/her
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 5 Groups
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 12 Groups
- @nickschurch
- | Dr
Principal Statistician for Ecology and Environmental Science with Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland.
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Board of Directors, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. Interests include AI applications supporting salmonid species recovery
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 2 Groups
Peruvian biologist working on Andean bear conservation in the Peruvian Andes
- 0 Resources
- 0 Discussions
- 7 Groups
Environmental (DNA) has emerged as a powerful and accessible tool to non-invasively and cost-effectly identify the presence of species in an environment, used by conservationists, researchers and citizen scientists. In...
10 February 2023
WILDLABS and Fauna & Flora International are seeking an early career Vietnamese conservationist for 12-month paid internship position to grow and support the Southeast Asia regional community in our global...
11 January 2023
Five articles that include conservation tech published at Mongabay
20 October 2022
*New closing date!* WILDLABS and Fauna & Flora International are seeking an early career conservationist for 12-month paid internship position to grow and support the Southeast Asia regional community in our global...
19 October 2022
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
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
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
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
Postdoc position focused on marine mammals, oceanography and eDNA!
15 July 2022
Positions include ecological data scientist, bioinformatician, metabarcoding assay developer, bioinformatics engineer, marine eDNA product scientist & more
4 June 2022
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
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
February 2023
July 2021
December 2019
5 Products
Recently updated products
Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hello everyone, I'm interested in gathering insights on how the behavior of different species impacts the development and efficacy of... |
|
Biologging, Acoustics, Camera Traps, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation | 1 month 4 weeks ago | |
Hi everyone. I'm still confused about this. Is it feasible to employ environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection of two distinct communities... |
|
eDNA & Genomics | 2 months 1 week ago | |
Forgot to mention this wildlife drone group - |
|
Drones, eDNA & Genomics | 3 months 3 weeks ago | |
Thanks Aude, very useful. Will reach out to them! |
|
Early Career, Acoustics, eDNA & Genomics, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools | 4 months 2 weeks ago | |
Carly, that would be great! Thanks! I work with soundscapes and love the work of Rainforest Connection! I'll send you an email (@CUNY) to coordinate! |
|
Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Conservation Tech Training and Education, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Remote Sensing & GIS | 11 months 2 weeks ago | |
Thanks so much!! |
|
Acoustics, 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 | 1 year 7 months ago | |
It is! Here you go: |
|
eDNA & Genomics | 1 year 9 months ago | |
@gracieermi & I are happy to announce the latest update to the Conservation Tech Directory, bringing our total resources in the... |
|
Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Biologging, Camera Traps, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Remote Sensing & GIS, Software and Mobile Apps | 1 year 10 months ago | |
Some folks doing work in this space - Wildlife Drones, Conservation Drones, UAV Wild, AfricanDrones, Oceans Unmanned, Geonadir. |
|
Drones, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech | 1 year 11 months 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/... |
|
eDNA & Genomics | 1 year 11 months ago | |
Posting for a labmate. La encuesta está en inglés, pero se ha proporcionado una traducción en español (ver... |
|
eDNA & Genomics | 3 years 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... |
|
eDNA & Genomics | 3 years 9 months ago |