July 23, 2021
In modern times scientists have worked to learn more about the incredible diversity of animals on planet Earth. To learn which particular creatures are present in a specific environment these researchers use a variety of techniques, including catch and release, as well as setting up camera traps in areas where it is likely animals will pass by and be photographed. But what about the tiny animals that are too small to set off the sensors? And what about the solitary creatures who live reclusive lives hidden in thick forests? What about the animals no one even knows are there? Thankfully there is another tool at hand for researchers, environmental DNA (or eDNA).
The use of eDNA is not new, but continues to grow in popularity as a research tool as the technology improves. Samples of soil, snow, sediment, water or air can be collected from the environment and from this, traces of DNA from living organisms can be extracted, and compared to a reference library to confirm which species are living in the environment. This DNA is shed by the animals during their everyday activities, like leaving hair behind when rubbing against a tree, or their skin cells left in their paw prints on the ground. And not only can the samples be collected directly from where the DNA was shed, but when it rains, all of this eDNA can be washed into a stream, where it can be collected by researchers, which allows them to determine which animals are living in the entire water catchment area, not just one small area.
Using this collection method, researchers led by the World Wildlife Foundation sampled eDNA from the South Chilcotin mountains here in BC to see how effective their approach was. In their study they found that eDNA sampling detected 25% more land mammal species (including several species of small previously undetected bats) than the camera traps they had set up in the same area. Not only did they detect more mammals, but the eDNA sampling was significantly less expensive than the camera traps. Their study was published earlier this year and proves that eDNA sampling from the water catchment is effective at detecting terrestrial mammals. This has the potential to change the way researchers are able to study biodiversity and help with conservation efforts around the world.
Source: Mongabag
Read more: https://news.mongabay.com/2021/07/for-monitoring-mammals-edna-boasts-killer-feature-over-other-methods/
Learn more about eDNA by watching our short video here.
To read more about the most recent eDNA project we have funded, click here.
