ProTecteDNA: Novel eDNA-based Technologies for biodiversity monitoring in Protected areas

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In the Disruptive Innovation - Early Career Seed Money project ProTecteDNA, funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), tools and know-how are being developed to promote novel genetic-based approaches for precise biodiversity assessment in protected areas.

The project ProTecteDNA focuses on biodiversity data acquisition from collection of environmental DNA (eDNA). eDNA consists of genetic traces that are present in the environment in different forms, including DNA fragments found in cells, hair, tissue particles or whole organisms. Due to technological advances over the last two decades, the use of genetic methods in biodiversity assessment has become widespread and has already achieved a high technology readiness level for experimental and demonstrative purposes. eDNA detection and species determination can now be done in an efficient, scalable and affordable way that promotes successful biodiversity monitoring. Metabarcoding, a method that allows for screening of different target taxa/communities in a single assessment, generally requires dedicated facilities and expensive equipment, including certified laboratories and sequencing devices, respectively.  However, new technologies allow using innovative DNA-based approaches for biodiversity monitoring without major infrastructure. Thus, in the project, a portable laboratory and DNA analysis tools will be tested for implementation in biodiversity assessment of freshwater habitats in protected areas.

Together with research partners from CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources and InBIO Associate Laboratory in Porto, Portugal, the following analytical steps will be address in order to provide information on species detection from eDNA: collection of eDNA using sampling kits, DNA extraction using a portable laboratory, DNA sequencing using the MinION Nanopore device, and data analysis with an open-source bioinformatics pipeline. ProTecteDNA will thus contribute to transformative change by further developing novel eDNA-based methods and fostering their potential for implementation in biodiversity assessment in protected areas.

Read more about the project on forschung.fh-kaernten.at/protectedna/

Project duration: July 2024 – June 2025.

Financed by: Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)