AMR Future Brief| Environmental DNA: A Novel Idea to Promote Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Restoration

Since the last decade, the emphasis on the preservation of different animal and plant species has increased greatly. Various reputed organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature have made significant contributions in the field of environmental conservation. Several technological advancements have taken place which have helped researchers and environmentalists in their pursuit to achieve the goal of preserving ecosystem biodiversity. The concept of environmental DNA has become quite popular in this context. Also called eDNA, environmental DNA is sourced from different environmental samples such as air, soil, snow, seawater, etc. The main aim of collecting genomic data is to determine the different species living in an ecosystem. Even such organisms which aren’t visible to the naked eye can be traced and identified using eDNA extraction techniques.??

Environmental DNA for restoring ecosystems facing threats of degradation?

Ever since the Industrial Revolution began in the 1750s, the rate of degradation of global ecosystems and biodiversity regions has been growing with each passing year. Furthermore, the excessive release of carbon compounds through fossil fuel combustion by households and industries has led to global warming and climate change. Similarly, the emission of volatile organic compounds, chlorofluorocarbons, HFCs, etc., has caused the thinning of the ozone layer, thereby exposing the Earth to harmful UV radiation. Moreover, human activities like plastic pollution, poaching, illegal hunting, and similar actions have worsened the destruction of global ecosystems. Ultimately, this has resulted in damaging the natural habitat of numerous animal and plant species, thereby pushing them on the verge of extinction.?

In such a scenario, a comprehensive and scientific methodology to detect the threatened species, ascertain their numbers, and analyze the impact of environmental degradation on their population becomes necessary. eDNA sourcing is an advanced technique to study the biodiversity and ecology of a region by studying the species in the habitat. Any organism during its lifetime sheds its DNA in its surroundings. Furthermore, natural phenomena such as wind, rain, snow, etc., distribute its pieces in the nearby areas. Typically, researchers collect soil samples from which the genetic material is extracted. In the next step, the DNA is amplified so that it can be studied appropriately. Finally, using sequencing techniques such as long-range PCR, 16S and ITS metagenomics, shotgun sequencing, etc., the presence of a specific organism is identified from the ecological sample.??

Many leading organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund have started using environmental DNA methodologies to search for rare and unique terrestrial and aquatic species. In 2013, WWF launched an initiative to ascertain the presence of highly threatened giant catfish in the Irrawaddy River. The techniques associated with eDNA that were used in the project helped in confirming the existence of the species in the river, following which a comprehensive conservation plan was formulated. Similarly, the eDNA approach has also been used for improving the habitat of certain animals in and around the Mekong River. Also, environmental DNA extraction procedures have been used in Amazon forests to catalog different mammals living in tropical regions.?

Apart from the detection of an organism in a specific habitat, eDNA also helps in monitoring the rehabilitation and recovery of wildlife in restored forests and other such ecosystems. For instance, the Natural History Museum recently conducted a study to understand the biodiversity in the threatened UK grasslands. From the soil sample that was collected for various DNA tests, a total of 7000 different species were detected. As per Dr John Tweddle who works at the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Nature, eDNA techniques have made it possible to understand the lifecycle of rare invertebrates which are generally overlooked by traditional surveys.??

NatureMetrics and Dartmouth Ocean Technologies (DOT) sign a definitive partnership to launch an innovative product?

To support the research institutes and environmentalists in their efforts for ecological conservation, many private companies have launched products that help these stakeholders effectively extract and amplify environmental DNA from ecological samples. For instance, in July 2024, NatureMetrics, a biodiversity monitoring solutions developer, announced a collaboration with Dartmouth Ocean Technologies (DOT), a sensor-platform-based company. As part of the partnership, the DOT-NM Autosampler was unveiled which aids in the autonomous collection of marine and freshwater samples for the extraction of eDNA. The company has claimed that the innovative product will assist scientists in making informed decisions in their field studies, thus simplifying the processes associated with ecological conservation.?

Many other such companies and enterprises, too, have taken measures to develop high-tech solutions for efficient processing, filtration, and extraction of DNA. Governmental organizations such as the Zoological Survey of India announced in December 2023 that it had set up a pilot project to analyze and monitor wildlife species using eDNA techniques.?

To conclude, the growing awareness regarding ecological sustainability and the need to conserve biodiversity has led to the advent of eDNA technology. The advancements in genome sequencing techniques have also played a major role in popularizing the idea of using environmental DNA for ecosystem restoration and rehabilitation.?

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? **?????????????? ????????????: Akhilesh Prabhugaonkar ?

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