Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Commentary: integrating environmental DNA into applied ecological practice

  • Commentary and Opinion
  • Published:
Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods and technologies are increasingly being explored and applied in research studies and environmental monitoring. Although eDNA has some limitations, there is the potential for major advantages to using this method within a regulatory context for characterizing and assessing species, populations, communities, and whole ecosystems. This commentary explores some of the challenges and solutions to acceptance of eDNA methods by regulators and regulated communities as an option for environmental monitoring. Increased collaborative eDNA forums and eDNA studies among researchers, regulators, applied ecologists, and regulated communities would help delineate the benefits, limitations, and appropriate applications of eDNA methods. This could facilitate development of best practices and industry standards which could, in turn, lead to acceptance by regulators and regulated communities. Finally, opportunities for applying eDNA to complement or even improve conventional monitoring methods are illustrated using three examples of regulatory environmental monitoring studies for protecting species at risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

References

  • Atlantic Canada Environmental DNA Workshop Report (2019) Workshop hosted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Oceans North and Nova Scotia Salmon Association. September, 2019

  • Beng KC, Corlett RT (2020) Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in ecology and conservation: opportunities, challenges and prospects. Biodivers Conserv 29:2089–2121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-020-01980-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darling J (2019) How to learn to stop worrying and love eDNA monitoring. Aquat Ecosyst Health Manag 22(4):440–451. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2019.1682912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darling JA, Mahon AR (2011) From molecules to management: adopting DNA-based methods for monitoring biological invasions in aquatic environments. Environ Res 111(7):978–988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2011.02.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DNAqua-Net (2017) DNAqua-Net COST Action Kick-Off conference. Digital Abstract Book (EU COST Action CA15219), http://dnaqua.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/AbstractBook_DNAqua-Net_Conference.pdf

  • EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.) (2018) Important considerations for the use of environmental DNA in the electric power industry. Report Number: 3002013775. https://www.epri.com/#/pages/product/000000003002013775/?lang=en-US

  • Gasparini L, Crookes S, Prosser RS, Hanner R (2020) Detection of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) using environmental DNA in riverine systems. Environmental DNA 2:321–329. https://doi.org/10.1002/end3.71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georges A, Hone LJ, Norris RH (2008) Applied ecology. In: Encyclopedia of ecology. Eds. S. E. Jørgensen and B. D. Fath. Pg 227–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045405-4.00848-X

  • Goldberg CS, Strickler KM, Fremier AK (2018) Degradation and dispersion limit environmental DNA detection of rare amphibians in wetlands: increasing efficacy of sampling designs. Sci Total Environ 633:695–703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg CS, Strickler KM, Pilliod DS (2015) Moving environmental DNA methods from concept to practice for monitoring aquatic macroorganisms. Biol Conserv 183:1–3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.11.040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg CS, Sepulveda A, Ray A, Baumgardt J, Waits LP (2013) Environmental DNA as a new method for early detection of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). Freshw Sci, 32, 792–800. https:// doi: https://doi.org/10.1899/13-046.1

  • Helbing CC, Hobbs J (2019) Environmental DNA standardization needs for fish and wildlife population assessments and monitoring. Canadian Standards Association:1–41

  • Hering D, Borja A, Jones JI, Pont D, Boets P, Bouchez A, Bruce K, Drakare S, Hänfling B, Kahlert M, Leese F, Meissner K, Mergen P, Reyjol Y, Segurado P, Vogler A, Kelly M (2018) Implementation options for DNA-based identification into ecological status assessment under the European Water Framework Directive. Water Res 138:192–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.03.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs J, Round JM, Allison MJ, Helbing CC (2019) Expansion of the known distribution of the coastal tailed frog, Ascaphus truei, in British Columbia, Canada, using robust eDNA detection methods. PLoS One 14(3):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213849

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IPBES (2019) Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Díaz S, Settele J, Brondízio ES, Ngo HT, Guèze M, Agard J, Arneth A, Balvanera P, Brauman KA, Butchart SHM, Chan KMA, Garibaldi LA, Ichii K, Liu J, Subramanian SM, Midgley GF, Miloslavich P, Molnár Z, Obura D, Pfaff A, Polasky S, Purvis A, Razzaque J, Reyers B, Chowdhury RR, Shin YJ, Visseren-Hamakers IJ, Willis KJ, Zayas CN (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. 56 pages. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553579

  • Kelly RP, Port JA, Yamahara KM, Martone RG, Lowell N, Thomsen PF, Mach ME, Bennett M, Prahler E, Caldwell MR, Crowder LB (2014) Harnessing DNA to improve environmental management. ScienceMag. 344(6191):1455–1456. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1251156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loeza-Quintana T, Abbott CL, Heath DD, Bernatchez L, Hanner RH (2020) Pathway to Increase Standards and Competency of eDNA Surveys (PISCeS) - advancing collaboration and standardization efforts in the field of eDNA. Environmental DNA 2(3):255–260. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lortie CJ, Owen M (2020) Ten simple rules to facilitate evidence implementation in the environmental sciences. FACETS 5:642–650. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2020-0021

  • Mackie G, Morris TJ, Ming D (2008) Protocol for the detection and relocation of freshwater mussel species at risk in Ontario-Great Lakes Area (OGLA). Can Manuscr Rep Fish Aquat Sci 2790:1–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Mergen P, Meissner K, Hering D, Leese F, Bouchez A, Weigand A, Kueckmann S (2018) DNAqua-Net or how to navigate on the stormy waters of standards and legislations. Biodiversity Information Science and Standards 2:e25953. https://doi.org/10.3897/biss.2.25953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Drainage Act (1990) Government of Ontario, e-Laws. Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2012–2020. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90d17

  • Ontario Endangered Species Act (2007) Government of Ontario, e-Laws. Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2012–2020. https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/07e06

  • Pawlowski J, Kelly-Quinn M, Altermatt F, Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil L, Beja P, Boggero A, Borja A, Bouchez A, Cordier T, Domaizon I, Feio MJ, Filipe AF, Fornaroli R, Graf W, Herder J, van der Hoorn B, Iwan Jones J, Sagova-Mareckova M, Moritz C, Barquín J, Piggott JJ, Pinna M, Rimet F, Rinkevich B, Sousa-Santos C, Specchia V, Trobajo R, Vasselon V, Vitecek S, Zimmerman J, Weigand A, Leese F, Kahlert M (2018) The future of biotic indices in the ecogenomic era: integrating (e)DNA metabarcoding in biological assessment of aquatic ecosystems. Sci Total Environ 637–638:1295–1310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PISCeS (2018) Pathway to Increase Standards and Competency of eDNA Surveys (PISCeS), Workshop proceedings. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. October 11–12, 2018. www.uoguelph.ca/ib/sites/uoguelph.ca.ib/files/public/2018_10_11_PISCeS_Abstracts.pdf

  • Taberlet P, Bonin A, Zinger L, Coissac E (2018) Environmental DNA for biodiversity research and monitoring. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom, 253 pages

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarof S, et al. (accepted). Environmental DNA bioassays corroborate field data for detection of overwintering species at risk Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). Genome. Accepted and awaiting publication

  • US EPA (2019) United States Environmental Protection Agency, Next generation compliance. Accessed October 2019. https://www.epa.gov/compliance/next-generation-compliance

  • Wilcox TM, Carim KJ, Young MK, McKelvey KS, Franklin TW, Schwartz MK (2018) Comment: the importance of sound methodology in environmental DNA sampling. N Am J Fish Manag 38:592–596. https://doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaiko A, Pochon X, Garcia-Vazquez E, Olenin S, Wood SA (2018) Advantages and limitations of environmental DNA/RNA tools for marine biosecurity: management and surveillance of non-indigenous species. Front Mar Sci 5:322. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00322

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. for providing funding support for JMK.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Funding

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. provided funding support for JMK.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dillon Consulting Limited, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jennifer Petruniak

  2. LimnoTech, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Douglas Bradley

  3. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Jocelyn M. Kelly & Robert H. Hanner

Authors
  1. Jennifer Petruniak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Douglas Bradley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jocelyn M. Kelly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert H. Hanner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas Bradley.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Petruniak, J., Bradley, D., Kelly, J.M. et al. Commentary: integrating environmental DNA into applied ecological practice. J Environ Stud Sci 11, 6–11 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-020-00638-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-020-00638-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation