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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- @bknight
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I'm a software engineer with experience in bioinformatics, robotics, and machine learning alongside a never-ending penchant to use my skills for good. Looking for opportunities in conservation tech to apply my skills where most needed :)
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I am a wildlife expert with a decade of experience working with bats and proven success in efforts to study, manage, and conserve the species. I work at the nexus of advanced technologies and deep ecological understandings to provide effective solutions to government, academic, a
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Ecologist focused on wetland restoration in freshwater wetlands of the northeast USA
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Molecular ecologist and eDNA enthusiasist. Mammals, Southern Africa, fish otter, fishes in Europe
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Grad Student, UW-Stout, Beaver habitat biodiversity research, process based restoration
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Research Officer with the Cayman Islands Department of Environment, Terrestrial Resources Unit. Her studies include tropical ecology, migratory birds, shorebird lifecycles, bats, reptiles, invasive species, biosecurity, wildlife health & marine biology.

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I am an experienced ecologist and wildlife conservationist dedicated to preserving biodiversity. With expertise in wildlife conservation research, I lead projects to protect endangered species and restore ecosystems. I advocate for conservation policies & sustainable solutions.
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Natural Solutions
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The World Can Be Better
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Wildlife Drones
Wildlife Drones has developed the world’s most innovative radio animal-tracking system using drones so you can track your radio-tagged animals like never before.


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Join us in celebrating this year’s Community Choice Award winners!
15 August 2024
Vote for your favorite submissions that best demonstrate conservation impact, novel innovation/discovery, and strong storytelling of the work and the sector.
12 August 2024
WildLabs will soon launch a 'Funding and Finance' group. What would be your wish list for such a group? Would you be interested in co-managing or otherwise helping out?
5 June 2024
Now accepting applications for two $15,000 grants to help protect wildlife through cutting-edge, technology-driven efforts
3 June 2024
Do you have photos and videos of your conservation tech work? We want to include them in a conservation technology showcase video
17 May 2024
Article
Read in detail about how to use The Inventory, our new living directory of conservation technology tools, organisations, and R&D projects.
1 May 2024
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
November 2023
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Description | Activity | Replies | Groups | Updated |
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Hola, Alen! I'm a veterinarian too and this device is being developed thinking of you and your colleagues. We want field veterinarians to be able to collect more samples with less... |
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Emerging Tech, eDNA & Genomics | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
Thank you for your reply, ChadI meant 10 as a whole, indeed. Perhaps you see your post in one group, but since it is tagged for all groups, I assumed you meant 10 in total.In your... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Climate Change, Community Base, Connectivity, Drones, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Funding and Finance, Geospatial, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Software Development, Wildlife Crime | 1 month 3 weeks ago | |
Hi @skirchgeorg , thanks for the additional info. We discuss again about this with my colleague and we were still hesitating with the drone, as it will still make some noise that... |
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Drones, eDNA & Genomics | 4 months 2 weeks ago | |
Hi Nabil,What medium do you want to sample for your eDNA (soil/air/water)? If its soil then you can simply collect a sample in a bag and freeze.This is a nice soil collection... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 5 months 3 weeks ago | |
Hi all, I am trying to find simple pre-assembled eDNA sampling kits like these below but for sale in North America. Is that... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 6 months ago | |
Hi Simon,We (Reneco International Wildlife Consultants) have an ongoing collaboration with a local University (Abu Dhabi, UAE) for developing AI tools (cameratrap/drone... |
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Acoustics, AI for Conservation, Animal Movement, Camera Traps, Citizen Science, Connectivity, Drones, Early Career, eDNA & Genomics, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools, Sensors | 6 months 4 weeks ago | |
Hi Muhammed,If you want any help with ONT please contact me |
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eDNA & Genomics | 7 months 1 week ago | |
Hi Phil, Thanks for sharing - this is really interesting work! Seems like a cool integration of ground-based (or ocean-based) data and satellite data, with a community... |
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Geospatial, Acoustics, Camera Traps, eDNA & Genomics | 10 months 2 weeks ago | |
Thank you so much! Now everything is in the hands of amazing organizations and companies! But the first results of the Disaster Management cohort are bringing a very optimistic... |
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AI for Conservation, Climate Change, Early Career, East Africa Community, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Ending Wildlife Trafficking Online, Human-Wildlife Coexistence, Open Source Solutions | 1 year ago | |
Hello everyone, I'm interested in gathering insights on how the behavior of different species impacts the development and efficacy of... |
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Animal Movement, Acoustics, Camera Traps, eDNA & Genomics, Emerging Tech, Marine Conservation | 1 year 4 months ago | |
Hi everyone. I'm still confused about this. Is it feasible to employ environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection of two distinct communities... |
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eDNA & Genomics | 1 year 5 months ago | |
Thanks Aude, very useful. Will reach out to them! |
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Early Career, Acoustics, eDNA & Genomics, Marine Conservation, Protected Area Management Tools | 1 year 7 months ago |
New Article: Environmental DNA Metabarcoding
6 April 2021 12:00am
The 2021 #Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Community Highlights
25 March 2021 12:00am
Eurasian Otter Workshop to highlight Conservation Planning, Threats, and Research Advances for Monitoring Otter Populations
25 January 2021 5:09pm
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
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
Webinar: Non-invasive Conservation Genetics

13 May 2020 12:00am
Virtual Meetup Discussion: eDNA
5 December 2019 12:03pm
12 December 2019 8:23pm
Hey Alex,
Our pleasure! Yep, we will be uploading the recording along with our notes from the session to this page. We'll also upload the individual talks to our yourtube channel here. We'll have them up in the next few days, probably early next week.
We're starting to think through topics for next season - I'm interested to hear if there are any technologies/tools or questions you'd like us to cover?
Steph
12 December 2019 8:35pm
Thanks!
I know there was some discussion of bioacoustics--I'll echo this interest. I have no experience and will be deploying audiomoths in my study area in early spring, so I need to get up to speed quickly!
Alex
12 December 2019 8:41pm
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 talk at one of our previous meetups - Peter Prince's talk is here.
Steph
WILDLABS Virtual Meetup Recording: Environmental DNA (eDNA)

22 October 2019 12:00am
Technology companies, FCO, and conservation NGOs come together to scale technology solutions to end wildlife crime
4 June 2019 12:00am
WILDLABS TECH HUB Showcase

17 May 2019 12:00am
Meet the WILDLABS TECH HUB Winners
13 May 2019 12:00am
Processing blood? Centrifuge troubleshooting
26 February 2018 11:47pm
6 March 2018 10:07am
Do you want me to put you in touch with folks at my company who know the second hand lab supplies market extremely well and might be able to help you buy the right centrifuge second hand?
13 March 2018 7:09pm
@ffyngau out of interest, what are you using the centrifuge for? Avian health research in Denali NP? @mattypie thanks so much for your offer to help connect with an affordable supplier.
29 March 2018 11:25am
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 measuring hematocrit, perhaps using flat-bottomed vials which do fit (less accurate though)
2) taping capillary tube in the tubes that fit (flat against bottom for clay retention)
3) try taping two support rods across the top to hold opposing capillary tubes
— Rachel Skubel (@rachelskubel) March 29, 2018
Steph
Technology Empowered Conservation Lecture Series
18 January 2018 12:00am
FIT Cheetahs
4 December 2017 12:00am
Learning To Be A Detection Dog Handler: The Teachings of Rubble
3 November 2017 12:00am
Plant DNA sequencing
Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge: YIARI is helping protect slow lorises
23 June 2017 12:00am
#Tech4Wildlife Photo Challenge: Our favourites from 2016
1 March 2017 12:00am
Conservation Leadership Programme 2017 Award
21 November 2016 12:00am
CSI for the Sea: How Scientists Use DNA to Spy on Whales and Find 'Extinct' Fish
18 November 2016 12:00am
5 Smart Technologies That Will Crack Down On Wildlife Trafficking
14 November 2016 12:00am
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grants via USFWS
8 November 2016 12:00am
DNA in scent marks
28 January 2016 5:03pm
How you are you using eDNA?
Upcoming Conferences
25 January 2016 4:57pm
25 January 2016 5:01pm
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 metabarcoding: a useful tool in estuaries monitoring."
Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge: Winners Announced!
22 January 2016 12:00am
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