Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is a molecular sampling technology that collects information about organisms using DNA shed by them into their environment. While eDNA holds exciting potential to become an efficient, low-cost, non-invasive ecological monitoring method, a lack of standardization of approaches and purpose-built sampling equipment make it hard to compare results and determine its actual effectiveness across studies. Detection success and accuracy also vary greatly among species and environments, making standardization a challenge.
However, as eDNA moves toward becoming an industry standard method for species detection and management, the equipment is beginning to transition from largely do-it-yourself experimental contraptions to professionally engineered tools. For example, Smith-Root Inc. recently developed the first-ever purpose-built eDNA sampling system, which they call ANDe™. We’re also seeing an expansion of eDNA applications from mainly marine to freshwater and even terrestrial environments, although the latter still requires substantial growth.
As this nascent field develops, it is critical for the conservation tech community to explore and identify how eDNA applies to management needs, and to ensure that continued development meets those needs. Beyond indicating species presence, research so far suggests that eDNA can contribute to conservation by deepening understanding of population dynamics, resource usage, disease presence, invasion pathways of non-native species, and population genetics, to name a few. This indicates that it could be a critical tool for managing imperiled and invasive species.
If you're new to eDNA and genomics, check out our Tech Tutors episode "How Do I Use Portable Genomics in the Field?" featuring Ineke Knot. You'll also find a bank of resources on that page, including a handy glossary of terms in our collaborative notes document!
Does your work involve eDNA and genomics, or are you curious about incorporating this type of technology into your field or lab work? Start a discussion in our group forum!
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Article
The Inventory is your one-stop shop for conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects. Start contributing to it now!
1 May 2024
This study investigated the accuracy of eDNA and electrofishing as alternative methods for assessing diversity.
14 February 2024
A set of highly discriminating STR DNA markers developed in a collaboration between the SASA wildlife forensics lab and University of Leicester researchers is being used to detect laundering of wild peregrine falcons...
13 February 2024
The eDNA Collaborative is partnering with Experiment to offer $80,000 in small grants to support projects that demonstrate novel approaches in marine eDNA collection, analysis, or application. Submission Deadline:...
12 February 2024
Article
eDNA Collaborative and Experiment Partner to Provide $80K in Grants--Apply Now!
9 February 2024
A portable nanopore DNA sequencer has been used to determine the species of origin of bushmeat intercepted at Brussels Airport during a day of baggage searches.
6 February 2024
This round of microgrants will be awarded in collaboration with miniPCR bio, and each microgrant award will consist of a mini16x thermal cycler, a blueGel electrophoresis system with USB power adaptor, one pipette, and...
2 December 2023
Competition Funded PhD Position at University of St Andrews School of Mathematics and Statistics
20 October 2023
Careers
Island Conservation's Innovation Team is dedicated to developing innovative, data-driven tools to increase the scale, scope, and pace of island restorations around the world. As the Conservation Innovation Manager, you...
27 September 2023
A new paper shared by Bento Lab on Twitter, focusing on using eDNA to assess population size, territory, and diet for two species of foxes in the Swedish tundra. This workflow can also apply to eDNA work identifying...
29 August 2023
Please join us in celebrating this year’s top #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge Honorees as chosen by our panel of leading conservation organization judges, and enjoy the story contained within these entries about how our...
4 August 2023
This new Nature feature discusses how air pollution monitoring stations in the UK have accidentally become tools for gathering eDNA data from the air. Interesting to consider how this could change wildlife monitoring,...
7 June 2023
December 2023
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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It is! Here you go: |
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eDNA & Genomics | 2 years 9 months ago | |
@gracieermi & I are happy to announce the latest update to the Conservation Tech Directory, bringing our total resources in the... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Community Base, Data management and processing tools, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Geospatial, Software Development | 2 years 10 months ago | |
Some folks doing work in this space - Wildlife Drones, Conservation Drones, UAV Wild, AfricanDrones, Oceans Unmanned, Geonadir. |
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Drones, AI for Conservation, Citizen Science, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech | 2 years 11 months ago | |
New paper by Héloïse Verdier of LEHNA lab: Passive sampling of environmental DNA in aquatic environments using 3D-printed hydroxyapatite samplers https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 2 years 11 months ago | |
Posting for a labmate. La encuesta está en inglés, pero se ha proporcionado una traducción en español (ver... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 years ago | |
Hi Wildlabbers, Ineke's episode is up on our Youtube now! Follow this link or watch it below. You can also find our collaborative notes from this episode here (where you... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 4 years 9 months ago | |
Ah! Well you're in luck.. We're doing acoustics first thing next year. Late January some time, so in good time for your field season. We also had the audiomoth team give a... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 5 years 5 months ago | |
Hi Emily, Rachel has some practical suggestions about rigging your current centrifuge up to fit the small tubes. What do you think - vIable? 1) If you're... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 7 years 1 month ago | |
Interesting new article on in-the-field DNA analysis. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 7 years 7 months ago | |
This could be huge for monitoring territorial species, not to mention have the potential to reduce the number of... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 9 years 3 months ago | |
Please share your experiences and how you are using eDNA. |
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eDNA & Genomics | 9 years 3 months ago | |
There will be an eDNA talk at the Mares Conference, February 1st to 5th 2016, Olhão, Portugal The talk is titled: "Species detections in environmental DNA using... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 9 years 3 months ago |
New conservation tech articles from Mongabay
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Conservation Technology Intern (Vietnam)

19 October 2022 9:22am
Conservation Tech Directory - new update!
29 August 2022 2:38pm
26 September 2022 10:07pm
Thanks so much!!
Senior Conservation Technology Expert Position (Consultancy) with the Global Wildlife Program
22 September 2022 5:35pm
New paper: Environmental DNA as a management tool for tracking artificial waterhole use in savanna ecosystems
19 September 2022 2:43pm
Scientists Solve Mount Everest Wildlife Mysteries Through the Use of eDNA
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Post Doctoral researcher - DNA species detection technology
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Tech Tutors: How do I use eDNA in large-scale monitoring of terrestrial mammals?
21 October 2021 12:26pm
28 July 2022 2:52pm
Hi - is a recording of this session (Using eDNA in large-scale monitoring) still available?
28 July 2022 4:47pm
It is! Here you go:
eDNA Postdoc in Seattle
15 July 2022 11:00pm
New Conservation Tech Directory update
27 June 2022 4:45pm
Cofounder needed
9 June 2022 4:23pm
17 June 2022 1:14pm
What about developing a drone conservation training course for field conservation staff teaching specific skills for specific research needs.
17 June 2022 6:54pm
How exciting @Joyeeta ! I'd love to learn more about the companies and projects you worked on, can you share more info about them?
I once chatted to an entrepreneurial advisor with a couple of my conservation tech ideas, and he said my ideas are good/impactful but don't make for a product worth millions of $$$ of turnover per year that would interest investors. So I am very curious about how you got your conservation tech businesses off the ground!
18 June 2022 8:33pm
Some folks doing work in this space - Wildlife Drones, Conservation Drones, UAV Wild, AfricanDrones, Oceans Unmanned, Geonadir.
Multiple positions open at NatureMetrics
4 June 2022 12:41pm
New wildlife forensics lab - Singapore
29 May 2022 12:34pm
eDNA Future applications
25 January 2016 5:12pm
31 January 2019 10:28pm
Hi Yvan,
This is Federico from IVE. The OSMO is being continuously developed and we have a couple of dozen units currently collecting samples/data around the world. It's also relatively cheap as it was designed with citizen scientists in mind. Maybe we could skype for additional details?
Cheers
5 February 2019 3:32pm
Hi Federico,
That's great to hear. Yes, let's skype. I'll send you my info by personal message.
Best
26 May 2022 5:05pm
New paper by Héloïse Verdier of LEHNA lab: Passive sampling of environmental DNA in aquatic environments using 3D-printed hydroxyapatite samplers https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1755-0998.13604
The group createda proof of concept of a passive, 3D-printed and easy-to-use eDNA sampler: "We designed the samplers from hydroxyapatite (HAp samplers), a natural mineral with a high DNA adsorption capacity. The porous structure and shape of the samplers were designed to optimize DNA adsorption and facilitate their handling in the laboratory and in the field. Here we show that HAp samplers can efficiently collect genomic DNA in controlled set-ups, but can also collect animal eDNA under controlled and natural conditions with yields similar to conventional methods. However, we also observed large variations in the amount of DNA collected even under controlled conditions. A better understanding of the DNA–hydroxyapatite interactions on the surface of the samplers is now necessary to optimize eDNA adsorption and to allow the development of a reliable, easy-to-use and reusable eDNA sampling tool."
Opportunity: Product Design Engineer
6 April 2022 12:00am
News: The Latest in Conservation Tech
10 March 2022 12:00am
Measuring biodiversity from DNA in the air
27 January 2022 12:00am
How do I use eDNA in large-scale monitoring of terrestrial mammals?
13 October 2021 12:00am
WILDLABS Tech Tutors: Season 3

6 July 2021 12:00am
PhD Survey - Use of genetic tools in aquatic invasive species management
12 May 2021 3:25pm
New Article: Environmental DNA Metabarcoding
6 April 2021 12:00am
The 2021 #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Community Highlights
25 March 2021 12:00am
Making the Most of Tech Tutors Season 2!

30 November 2020 12:00am
Southern Right Whales & Genome and Satellite Technology
5 November 2020 12:00am
Tech Tutors: Review Session

3 September 2020 12:00am
Tech Tutors: How do I use portable genomics in the field?
8 July 2020 11:55am
12 August 2020 9:49pm
Hi Wildlabbers,
We'll be using this thread for all follow-up questions and ongoing discussions after tomorrow's episode with Ineke! If you haven't registered yet, make sure you get your ticket here.
As always, we'll update this thread after the episode with the full tutorial and Q&A on our Youtube channel. We'll also share our collaborative notes and resources gathered from the episode's chat.
See you tomorrow for what will definitely be an exciting episode!
-Ellie
14 August 2020 4:14pm
Hi Wildlabbers,
Ineke's episode is up on our Youtube now! Follow this link or watch it below. You can also find our collaborative notes from this episode here (where you'll definitely want to check out Ineke's handy glossary!).
Ineke's happy to answer more questions, so ask away in here!
-Ellie
How do I use portable genomics in the field?
3 August 2020 12:00am
Competition: 2020 Hackaday Prize
26 May 2020 12:00am
23 September 2022 5:26pm
Congrats on the milestone Carly and Gracie!