Reinforcement of Environmental DNA Based Methods (<i>Sensu Stricto</i>) in Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation: A Review
Pritam Banerjee,
Gobinda Dey,
Caterina M. Antognazza,
Raju Kumar Sharma,
Jyoti Prakash Maity,
Michael W. Y. Chan,
Yi-Hsun Huang,
Pin-Yun Lin,
Hung-Chun Chao,
Chung-Ming Lu,
Chien-Yen Chen
Affiliations
Pritam Banerjee
Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Gobinda Dey
Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Caterina M. Antognazza
Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant, 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
Raju Kumar Sharma
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Jyoti Prakash Maity
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Michael W. Y. Chan
Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate Institute of Molecular Biology, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Yi-Hsun Huang
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Pin-Yun Lin
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Hung-Chun Chao
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Chung-Ming Lu
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Ming-Shung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Chien-Yen Chen
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County, Jiayi 62102, Taiwan
Recently developed non-invasive environmental DNA-based (eDNA) techniques have enlightened modern conservation biology, propelling the monitoring/management of natural populations to a more effective and efficient approach, compared to traditional surveys. However, due to rapid-expansion of eDNA, confusion in terminology and collection/analytical pipelines can potentially jeopardize research progression, methodological standardization, and practitioner adoption in several ways. Present investigation reflects the developmental progress of eDNA (sensu stricto) including highlighting the successful case studies in conservation management. The eDNA technique is successfully relevant in several areas of conservation research (invasive/conserve species detection) with a high accuracy and authentication, which gradually upgrading modern conservation approaches. The eDNA technique related bioinformatics (e.g., taxon-specific-primers MiFish, MiBird, etc.), sample-dependent methodology, and advancement of sequencing technology (e.g., oxford-nanopore-sequencing) are helping in research progress. The investigation shows that the eDNA technique is applicable largely in (i) early detection of invasive species, (ii) species detection for conservation, (iii) community level biodiversity monitoring, (iv) ecosystem health monitoring, (v) study on trophic interactions, etc. Thus, the eDNA technique with a high accuracy and authentication can be applicable alone or coupled with traditional surveys in conservation biology. However, a comprehensive eDNA-based monitoring program (ecosystem modeling and function) is essential on a global scale for future management decisions.