Environmental DNA (eDNA) Monitoring

Conservation & Biodiversity 2008

Discoverers: Pierre Taberlet

Overview

Development of methods to detect species from trace DNA shed into water, soil, or air, enabling non-invasive biodiversity monitoring.

Significance

Revolutionised species detection by allowing surveys without capturing or even observing organisms, dramatically improving efficiency for rare species.

Methodology

Extraction and amplification of DNA from water samples, using species-specific primers and metabarcoding to identify organisms present in the environment.

Impact