WHAT CAN eDNA BE USED FOR?
eDNA Frontiers has unparalleled expertise in environmental DNA technology and its applications. We combine this with deep scientific knowledge to provide customised biodiversity monitoring solutions for all project needs.
Some of the major applications are listed below – but we are ready to apply ourselves to any project!
OIL AND GAS
Biodiversity baselining for expansion and decomissioning
OIL AND GAS
The Oil and Gas industry has thousands of offshore structures worldwide that need environmental monitoring, and some that are reaching retirement and in need of decommissioning. Many regulators worldwide currently require complete removal of these structures which can present management challenges around conservation and/or invasive species in residence on the infrastructure. This can complicate the realisation of significant environmental and social benefits to leaving them in place or reefing them in a new location. Biodiversity baselining is an important aspect of managing infrastructure in the oil and gas industry. Understanding the species present can serve as an insurance policy against future environmental change, particularly when planning expansion or decommissioning
CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY
Easy assessment of biodiversity with the ability to detect cryptic, low abundance, and endangered species
CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY
Conservation efforts depend on biological monitoring to obtain data on species distribution and population sizes. Species monitoring has traditionally relied on visual surveys and physical collection of the species from the ecosystem under study. Subsequent identification of organisms using distinct morphological characters is heavily dependent on taxonomic expertise, which is in rapid decline worldwide.
eDNA monitoring offers a new approach for assessing biodiversity. Environmental samples can be collected and tested without the need to morphologically identify individual organisms. The data produced can provide a profile of all taxonomic groups or particular taxa of interest living in the environment being surveyed. eDNA monitoring can also aid in detecting cryptic, low abundance, and endangered species, often not recorded with traditional monitoring surveys. eDNA surveys over time can be useful in tracking temporal changes within an area, differences in biodiversity between multiple areas, range shifts of species, and many other applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Comparison of species diversity and impacted and non-impacted sites
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Environmental assessment is the assessment of environmental consequences, either positive or negative, following an action. This can be a human action such as the installation of a structure, or a natural event such as a heatwave or cyclone. Collecting baseline information is important prior to the start of new projects to understand whether change has occurred over time.
In the event of an impact, eDNA collected at impacted sites and non-impacted sites can be compared to determine if loss or change of species biodiversity has occurred at impacted sites. Loss of habitat from an impact may also lead to turnover of species assemblages or invasion of alien species, both of which can be detected through eDNA monitoring. Positive consequences can also be determined using eDNA analysis by monitoring for early indications of recovery of impacted sites. This has been demonstrated by the changes in invertebrate diversity and abundance during mine site restoration as well as fish and marine mammal diversity and abundance following disturbance in marine and river systems.
PORT MONITORING
Early detection of marine invasive species
PORT MONITORING
Port monitoring is of vital biosecurity importance due to risk of invasive species introduction via ship ballast water or biofoul on hulls and niche areas. Historically, port monitoring has been conducted by visual inspection of high-risk vessels using morphological identification methods - a highly specialised skill that often requires boat time and divers, and can usually only detect mature specimens. eDNA isolated from water, sediment, settlement plates, or biofoul provides an alternative way to search for invasive species in ports, ballast, or on the hull of a ship.
An eDNA approach to invasive species surveys has many benefits over traditional monitoring. Creating biotic audits of the taxa present in a sample and cross-referencing against a custom database of Alien Invasive Species (AIS) can target detection of particular pest species. A full biotic audit also allows for comparison against species previously recorded in an area. This may lead to the detection of introduced species that had previously not been considered by risk assessments but may be just as harmful as identified pests. Finally, if an AIS is detected, monitoring eDNA over time can be used to determine the extent and spread of impact.
Contact us to find out how eDNA Frontiers can help with your project needs.