Answers in a Drop of Water: eDNA and its Application in Marine and Freshwater Conservation
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-13-2025 4:30 PM
End
2-13-2025 4:45 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses have become a widely used technique allowing rapid biodiversity screening and monitoring. DNA from every organism is released from body fluids or the skin into its environment and remains there for a limited time. This talk will present a summary of different eDNA applications to investigate research questions related to biological community composition and its change over time, as well as to detect specific species to further understand their distribution patterns and conservation needs. We will present results for a variety of ecosystems, from freshwater habitats in the Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena rivers as well as cave ecosystems in Colombia, to tropical marine ecosystems in the Colombian Pacific, as well as research in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The talk will also focus on how to involve members from local communities and tourist in eDNA sample collection and the use of results in education and recovery of ancestral knowledge.
Answers in a Drop of Water: eDNA and its Application in Marine and Freshwater Conservation
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses have become a widely used technique allowing rapid biodiversity screening and monitoring. DNA from every organism is released from body fluids or the skin into its environment and remains there for a limited time. This talk will present a summary of different eDNA applications to investigate research questions related to biological community composition and its change over time, as well as to detect specific species to further understand their distribution patterns and conservation needs. We will present results for a variety of ecosystems, from freshwater habitats in the Amazon, Orinoco and Magdalena rivers as well as cave ecosystems in Colombia, to tropical marine ecosystems in the Colombian Pacific, as well as research in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. The talk will also focus on how to involve members from local communities and tourist in eDNA sample collection and the use of results in education and recovery of ancestral knowledge.