Abstract
Simple SummaryWorldwide biodiversity loss points to a necessity of upgrading to a fast and effective monitoring method that can provide quick conservation action. Newly developed environmental DNA (eDNA) based method found to be more cost-effective, non-invasive, quick, and accurate than traditional monitoring (spot identification, camera trapping). Although the eDNA based methods are proliferating rapidly, as a newly developed branch, it needs more standardization and practitioner adaptation. The present study aims to evaluate the eDNA based methods, and their potential achievements in biodiversity monitoring, and conservation for quick practitioners’ adaption. The investigation shows that the eDNA technique is applicable largely in (i) early detection of invasive species, (ii) species detection for conservation, (iii) community-level biodiversity monitoring, (iv) ecosystem health monitoring, (v) study on trophic interactions, etc. Thus, the eDNA technique shows a great promise with its high accuracy and authenticity, and will be applicable alone or alongside other methods in the near future.Recently developed non-invasive environmental DNA-based (eDNA) techniques have enlightened modern conservation biology, propelling the monitoring/management of natural populations to a more effective and efficient approach, compared to traditional surveys. However, due to rapid-expansion of eDNA, confusion in terminology and collection/analytical pipelines can potentially jeopardize research progression, methodological standardization, and practitioner adoption in several ways. Present investigation reflects the developmental progress of eDNA (sensu stricto) including highlighting the successful case studies in conservation management. The eDNA technique is successfully relevant in several areas of conservation research (invasive/conserve species detection) with a high accuracy and authentication, which gradually upgrading modern conservation approaches. The eDNA technique related bioinformatics (e.g., taxon-specific-primers MiFish, MiBird, etc.), sample-dependent methodology, and advancement of sequencing technology (e.g., oxford-nanopore-sequencing) are helping in research progress. The investigation shows that the eDNA technique is applicable largely in (i) early detection of invasive species, (ii) species detection for conservation, (iii) community level biodiversity monitoring, (iv) ecosystem health monitoring, (v) study on trophic interactions, etc. Thus, the eDNA technique with a high accuracy and authentication can be applicable alone or coupled with traditional surveys in conservation biology. However, a comprehensive eDNA-based monitoring program (ecosystem modeling and function) is essential on a global scale for future management decisions.
Highlights
The loss of biodiversity has been one of the most serious concerns worldwide
As per molecular biologists and ecologists, the environmental DNA-based (eDNA)-based monitoring systems are applicable in conservation research with high accuracy and authentication, due to effective approach in the monitoring and management of natural populations, compared to traditional surveys
Until now, researchers are struggling with the application of proper eDNA technique due to lack of proper (i) research design, (ii) sampling, and (iii) sample-dependent methodology, etc., since the eDNA varies qualitatively and quantitively from one environment to another
Summary
The loss of biodiversity has been one of the most serious concerns worldwide. The world has been losing its biodiversity due to a target to fulfilling high demands of satisfaction by the human race which in turn is incurring expensive and detrimental demands to nature [1]. The novel eDNA-based approaches have been used to solve some critical conservation issues such as the detection of rare and endangered species [20], invasive species [21], monitoring whole biodiversity [22,23], study of anthropogenic effect [24], ecosystem health [25] and disease [26]. As eDNA-based methods are emerging rapidly as a multidisciplinary branch of science (Figure 1), it is necessary to evaluate the recent advancements for proper implementation Considering this background, the aim of the present investigation is to focus on and summarize the methodological development and application of macro-organismal eDNA in biodiversity monitoring, highlighting successful case studies in conservation management. We hope to draw the attention of practitioners who may otherwise be unfamiliar with the achievements of eDNA-based methods that have been made to date
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