The Methods and Uses of eDNA for Animal Conservation
Abstract
Environmental DNA has a variety of uses. The most common uses of e-DNA are for the detection of animals, especially rare species, those that are difficult to detect in the wild, or potential harmful species where early detection is important for reducing risks to human and or ecosystems. This poster analyzes the methods and uses of Environmental DNA (e-DNA) for animal conservation. The three main sources of DNA sampling types include: terrestrial, aquatic, and air, each requiring different collecting protocols and methods. Through the extraction and purification of DNA, the samples are stored to later be analyzed using the laboratory technique quantitative polymerase chain reaction also known as “qPCR”. In qPCR a segment of the DNA is amplified using specialized enzymes where fluorescent probes bind to the target DNA and emit light. The amount of light reflected is measured in order to calculate the concentration of DNA present in each sample. This procedure allows for the identification of target sequences, resulting in the ability to infer which species is present in each sample. By collecting samples such as flowers, water, or air there is no required collection of live animals, allowing for the ability to detect species without capturing or otherwise introducing stress to the studied organism.
The Methods and Uses of eDNA for Animal Conservation
Environmental DNA has a variety of uses. The most common uses of e-DNA are for the detection of animals, especially rare species, those that are difficult to detect in the wild, or potential harmful species where early detection is important for reducing risks to human and or ecosystems. This poster analyzes the methods and uses of Environmental DNA (e-DNA) for animal conservation. The three main sources of DNA sampling types include: terrestrial, aquatic, and air, each requiring different collecting protocols and methods. Through the extraction and purification of DNA, the samples are stored to later be analyzed using the laboratory technique quantitative polymerase chain reaction also known as “qPCR”. In qPCR a segment of the DNA is amplified using specialized enzymes where fluorescent probes bind to the target DNA and emit light. The amount of light reflected is measured in order to calculate the concentration of DNA present in each sample. This procedure allows for the identification of target sequences, resulting in the ability to infer which species is present in each sample. By collecting samples such as flowers, water, or air there is no required collection of live animals, allowing for the ability to detect species without capturing or otherwise introducing stress to the studied organism.