Environmental DNA (eDNA) is genetical material present in the environmental sample. It originates from biological material released by organisms living in that environment.
The collection of environmental samples such as water, sediment and soil, and the isolation and analysis of eDNA can provide information about the presence of various species in the investigated environment. Unlike conventional monitoring methods which can be time-consuming, expensive, and limited by the lack of taxonomical expertise, advances in eDNA research have provided a rapid and efficient way to determine the presence and relative abundance of organisms in different environments.
There are two main approaches in eDNA analysis. A species-specific approach uses PCR methods (quantitative PCR or droplet digital PCR) to identify the presence of one or several species of interest. This enables early detection of invasive species and pathogens and monitoring of rare and endemic species. Alternatively, a multi-species detection approach, using DNA metabarcoding, provides an overview of entire communities present in the environment, such as fishes, diatoms, and macroinvertebrates, and allows for biodiversity assessment.
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