A5009812326- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Privacy-Preserving Technologies in Data
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Conferences and Exhibitions Management
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
University of Zurich
2019-2025
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2018-2025
University of Hull
2016-2023
Environment Agency
2023
Cornell University
2021
Liverpool John Moores University
2021
Agricultural Development Advisory Service (United Kingdom)
2021
University of Nottingham
2021
Universität Innsbruck
2021
Washington State University
2021
Organisms continuously release DNA into their environments via shed cells, excreta, gametes and decaying material. Analysis of this 'environmental DNA' (eDNA) is revolutionizing biodiversity monitoring. eDNA outperforms many established survey methods for targeted detection single species, but few studies have investigated how well reflects whole communities organisms in natural environments. We whether can recover accurate qualitative quantitative information about fish large lakes, by...
Abstract The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for species monitoring requires rigorous validation—from field sampling to the PCR‐based results—for meaningful application and interpretation. Assays targeting eDNA released by individual are typically validated with no predefined criteria answer specific research questions in one ecosystem. Hence, general applicability assays, as well associated uncertainties limitations, often remain undetermined. absence clear guidelines assay...
Abstract Molecular tools are an indispensable part of ecology and biodiversity sciences implemented across all biomes. About a decade ago, the use implementation environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect signals extracted from samples opened new avenues research. Initial eDNA research focused on understanding population dynamics target species. Its scope thereafter broadened, uncovering previously unrecorded via metabarcoding in both well‐studied understudied ecosystems taxonomic groups. The...
Abstract Environmental DNA offers great potential as a biodiversity monitoring tool. Previous work has demonstrated that eDNA metabarcoding provides reliable information for lake fish monitoring, but important questions remain about temporal and spatial repeatability, which is critical understanding the ecology of developing effective sampling strategies. Here, we carried out comprehensive England's largest lake, Windermere, during summer winter to (1) examine repeatability method, (2)...
Uncovering biodiversity as an inherent feature of ecosystems and understanding its effects on ecosystem processes is one the most central goals ecology. Studying organisms’ occurrence patterns in natural has spurred discovery foundational ecological rules, such species–area relationship, general scientific interest. Recent global changes add relevance urgency to diversity organisms, their respective roles processes. While information properties abiotic environmental conditions are now...
Abstract Accurate characterisation of ecological communities with respect to their biodiversity and food-web structure is essential for conservation. However, combined empirical study multi-trophic food webs at a large spatial temporal resolution has been prohibited by the lack appropriate access such data from natural systems. Here, we assessed characteristics across 700 km 2 riverine network over seasons using environmental DNA. We found contrasting patterns between major taxonomic groups....
Abstract Anthropogenically forced changes in global freshwater biodiversity demand more efficient monitoring approaches. Consequently, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is enabling ecosystem-scale assessment, yet the appropriate spatio-temporal resolution of robust assessment remains ambiguous. Here, using intensive, eDNA sampling across space (five rivers Europe and North America, with an upper range 20–35 km between samples), time (19 timepoints 2017 2018) conditions (river flow, pH,...
Aquatic macroinvertebrates, including many aquatic insect orders, are a diverse and ecologically relevant organismal group yet they strongly affected by anthropogenic activities. As of these taxa highly sensitive to environmental change, offer particularly good early warning system for human-induced thus leading their intense monitoring. In ecosystems there is plethora biotic monitoring or biomonitoring approaches, with more than 300 assessment methods reported freshwater alone. Ultimately,...
Over the last decade, steady advancements have been made in use of DNA-based methods for detection species a wide range ecosystems. This progress has culminated molecular monitoring being employed several enforceable management purposes endangered, invasive, and illegally harvested worldwide. However, routine application to monitor whole communities (typically metabarcoding approach) order assess status ecosystems continues be limited. In aquatic ecosystems, limited is particularly true...
Anthropogenic activities are changing the state of ecosystems worldwide, affecting community composition and often resulting in loss biodiversity. Rivers among most impacted ecosystems. Recording their current with regular biomonitoring is important to assess future trajectory Traditional monitoring methods for ecological assessments costly time-intensive. Here, we compared macroinvertebrates based on environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling traditional kick-net biodiversity patterns at 92 river...
Abstract The ever-increasing threats to riverine ecosystems call for novel approaches highly resolved biodiversity assessments across taxonomic groups and spatio-temporal scales. Recent advances in the joint use of environmental DNA (eDNA) data eDNA transport models rivers (e.g., eDITH) allow uncovering full structure biodiversity, hence elucidating ecosystem processes supporting conservation measures. We applied eDITH a metabarcoding dataset covering three (fish, invertebrates, bacteria)...
We report the discovery of a non-native gammarid, Gammarus fossarum (Koch, 1836) (Crustacea, Amphipoda), in UK rivers.Gammarus is common freshwater gammarid many parts mainland Europe, but was previously considered absent from UK.Gammarus detected number rivers following DNA metabarcoding mini-barcode region COI gene macroinvertebrate kick samples, and environmental (eDNA) water sediment samples.Subsequent morphological analysis standard barcoding showed that species could be reliably...
Abstract The crucian carp ( Carassius carassius ) is one of few fish species associated with small ponds in the UK. These populations contain genetic diversity not found Europe and are important to conservation efforts for which has declined across its range Europe. Detection monitoring extant crucial success. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis could be very useful this respect as a rapid, cost‐efficient tool. We developed species‐specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay...
Abstract Large tropical and subtropical rivers are among the most biodiverse ecosystems worldwide, but also suffer from high anthropogenic pressures. These hitherto subject to little or no routine biomonitoring, which would be essential for identification of conservation areas importance. Here, we use a single environmental DNA multi-site sampling campaign across 200,000 km 2 Chao Phraya river basin, Thailand, provide key information on fish diversity. We found total 108 taxa identified...
Functional feeding groups (FFGs) are key components sustaining ecosystem functioning in riverine ecosystems. Their distribution and diversity tightly associated with surrounding terrestrial landscape through land-water linkages. Nevertheless, knowledge about the spatial extent magnitude of these cross-ecosystem linkages within major FFGs still remains unclear. Here, we conducted an airborne imaging spectroscopy campaign a systematic environmental DNA (eDNA) field sampling river water 740-km2...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) consists of genetic fragments suspended in the water column. Recently, it has been heralded as an effective tool for biodiversity monitoring (Blackman et al., 2024), resulting a considerable diversity studies and data collection. Most from these are published open access repositories (e.g., ENA, eDNAexplorer, Genbank) but have minimal or no re-analysis, therefore offering currently up-to-date resource. eDNA observations explored understanding hydrological processes...
Abstract Human activities drive a wide range of environmental pressures, including habitat change, pollution and climate resulting in unprecedented effects on biodiversity 1,2 . However, despite decades research, generalizations the dimensions extent human impacts remain ambiguous. Mixed views persist trajectory at local scale 3 even more so biotic homogenization across space 4,5 We compiled 2,133 publications covering 97,783 impacted reference sites, creating an unparallelled dataset 3,667...
Abstract Biodiversity underpins the functional integrity of ecosystems. At present, our understanding relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is essentially based on manipulative experiments. Compelling data at large spatial scales are scarce, especially for river networks. BEF patterns across landscapes complex because they unfold in context environmental gradients compositional turnover natural communities. Leaf litter decomposition, a pivotal process streams, no...
Abstract The early detection of invasive non‐native species (INNS) is important for informing management actions. Established monitoring methods require the collection or observation specimens, which unlikely at beginning an invasion when densities are likely to be low. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis a highly promising technique INNS—particularly during stages invasion. Here, we compared use traditional kick‐net sampling with two eDNA approaches (targeted using both conventional and...
Abstract Metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful tool for describing biodiversity, such as finding keystone species or detecting invasive in samples. Continuous improvements the method and advances sequencing platforms over last decade have meant this approach now widely used biodiversity sciences biomonitoring. For its general use, hinges on correct identification taxa. However, past studies shown how crucially depends important decisions during sampling, sample processing,...
Abstract Regular monitoring of ecosystems can be used for the early detection invasive alien species (IAS), and provide information management preventing them from becoming established or advancing into new areas. Current methods freshwater systems IAS both financially costly time‐consuming, with routine often carried out at low intensity only a small number sites. In this study, we evaluate how environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding macroinvertebrate compares to traditional kick‐net...
Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized ecological research, particularly for biodiversity assessment in various environments, most notably aquatic media. analysis allows non‐invasive and rapid species detection across multiple taxonomic groups within a single sample, making it especially useful identifying rare or invasive species. Due to dynamic hydrological processes, eDNA samples from running waters may represent broad contributing areas, which is convenient biomonitoring...