Cell: DNA in the air could revolutionize how we measure animal diversity

Two new studies published in the journal Current Biology show that environmental DNA (eDNA) collected from the air can be used to detect a wide range of animal species and provide a novel, non-invasive way to monitor biodiversity method of sex

The findings were made by two independent research groups, one in Denmark and the other in the UK and Canada

The UK study was led by Assistant Professor Elizabeth Clare of York University in Canada, who was then a Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, while the Danish study was led by Associate Professor Christine Bower of the Global Institute at the University of Copenhagen Mann led

Both groups used different methods to filter eDNA from the air, but both successfully detected the presence of large numbers of animal species in and around the two zoos

Bohmann's team collected air samples using three different air-sampling devices; a commercial water-based vacuum cleaner and two blowers with filters -- the smallest of which was the size of a golf ball

Using sensitive filters attached to vacuum pumps, Claire's team collected more than 70 air samples from various locations around the zoo, including in the animals' sleeping areas and outside the zoo's general environment

The results of both studies exceeded their expectations

"When we analysed the samples we collected, we were able to identify the DNA of 25 different animals, such as tigers, lemurs and dingoes, 17 of which were known zoo species

"We were surprised when we saw the results," Bohmann said

Many of the species found are kept in the zoo, but it is worth noting that both teams also found species in the area around the zoo

"The non-invasive nature of this method makes it particularly valuable for observing vulnerable or endangered species as well as those in hard-to-reach environments such as caves and burrows where they are not visible and we know they are in the area if we can pick them up.

Organisms release DNA into their surroundings when they interact with their surroundings, and in recent years, eDNA has become an important tool for the detection of species in a wide range of habitats

When demonstrating a new type of eDNA sample, one of the main things is to ensure that the results are reliable because eDNA analysis is very sensitive and prone to contamination

"Air is a challenging substrate because it surrounds everything, which means there is a high risk of contamination

For these earlier studies, being able to replicate this work is key
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The two teams knew nothing about each other's work until the study was complete, but they were excited by the parallelism of the experiments
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Claire and Bohmann agree that having two research teams independently demonstrate that eDNA in the air can be used to monitor a range of animal species greatly enhances their work and clearly shows the potential of the technology
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"We don't think extracting animal DNA from the air will work," adds Bohmann.
"It's high-risk, high-reward science that has the potential to push the boundaries of vertebrate biomonitoring
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" Clearly the sky isn't the limit
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The use of airborne eDNA sampling in natural environments requires further research to unlock its full potential, but both research teams believe it could change the way researchers study and monitor animal biodiversity
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references:

1. 'Measuring biodiversity from DNA in the air' Elizabeth L.
   Clare, Chloe K.
   Economou, Frances J.
   Bennett, Caitlin E.
   Dyer, Katherine Adams, Benjamin McRobie, Rosie Drinkwater, Joanne E.
   Littlefair  Current Biology  (2021).
   DOI: 10.
   1016/j.
   cub.
   2021.
   11.
   064

2. 'Airborne environmental DNA for terrestrial vertebrate community monitoring' Christina Lynggaard, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Casper V.
   Jensen, Matthew S.
   Johnson, Tobias Guldberg Frøslev, Morten Tange Olsen and Kristine Bohmann  Current Biology  (2021).
   DOI: 10.
   1016/j.
   cub .
   2021.
   12.
   014