ID-Gene Guidelines 2020
Environmental DNA applications in biomonitoring and bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems – Guidelines 2020
Jan Pawlowski, Laure Apothéloz-Perret-Gentil, Elvira Mächler, Florian Altermatt
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN/OFEV/BAFU), Bern, Switzerland. Environmental Studies. No 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-187800. December 2020
Aquatic biomonitoring is currently transformed by environmental DNA (eDNA) based approaches. These new tools overcome some limitations of traditional biomonitoring and allow non-invasive sampling, broad taxonomic coverage, high sensitivity, and the possibility to automation. However, the disruptive character and rapid developments of the new technology challenge its implementation. This publication explains the principles of the eDNA technology and presents its advantages and limitations. It shows possible applications of eDNA tools in monitoring and assessment of aquatic ecosystems and provides detailed protocols and best practices for processing eDNA samples.
Das Biomonitoring aquatischer Lebensräume wird derzeit durch Verfahren, die auf Umwelt-DNA (eDNA) basieren, verändert. Diese neuen Instrumente überwinden gewisse Beschränkungen herkömmlicher Biomonitoringmethoden und erlauben eine nichtinvasive Probenahme, eine breite taxonomische Auflösung, eine hohe Sensitivität und die Möglichkeit, Prozesse zu automatisieren. Allerdings stellen die komplett neue Herangehensweise und die rasche Entwicklung der neuen Technologie Herausforderungen für ihre Einführung in die Praxis dar. In dieser Publikation werden die Grundsätze der eDNA-Technologie erläutert und die Vorteile und Beschränkungen vorgestellt. Es werden mögliche Anwendungen von eDNA-Tools für das Monitoring und die Bewertung aquatischer Ökosysteme.
Les approches fondées sur l’ADN environnemental (ADNe) sont en passe de transformer la biosurveillance aquatique. Ces nouveaux outils permettent d’outrepasser les limites de la surveillance biologique traditionnelle : ils permettent d’effectuer un échantillonnage non invasif, de couvrir un large éventail taxonomique et offrent une sensibilité élevée ainsi que des possibilités d’automatisation. Cependant, le caractère révolutionnaire et les développements rapides de cette nouvelle technologie entravent sa mise en oeuvre. La présente publication explique les principes des méthodes ADNe, en présente les avantages et les limites et formule des suggestions concernant les standards et les pratiques de routine. En outre, elle montre les utilisations possibles des outils fondés sur l’ADNe dans la surveillance et l’évaluation des écosystèmes aquatiques, expose des études de cas spécifiques et propose des protocoles détaillés ainsi que des exemples de bonnes pratiques pour le traitement des échantillons d’ADNe.
To analyze and evaluate the aquatic biocenosis, a dataset of sufficient quantity and quality is required. However, acquiring such data is not always possible with currently available methods. Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques can help to address this problem. A lot of important information about the biological status of aquatic ecosystems can be obtained from simple water or sediment samples. eDNA techniques have many advantages, interest in them is growing and many methods are being developed around the world. This rapid development implies that it is currently difficult for practitioners and decision makers to know what methods are available, which ones can be used for aquatic biomonitoring and where information about systematic approaches can be found.
These guidelines on ‘Environmental DNA applications in biomonitoring and bioassessment of aquatic ecosystems’ are intended to promote and support the standardization and implementation of eDNA methods in aquatic biomonitoring and in assessing the status of aquatic ecosystems. They are aimed at practitioners and decision-makers (government, cantons, engineering firms). To this end, the document provides an overview of the various methods available, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of eDNA methods and gives suggestions for recommended best practices and routine standards.
ID-GENE ecodiagnostics
109 ch. du Pont-du-Centenaire, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates
2a ch. des Hutins, 1232 Confignon
Geneva, Switzerland
info
Explore the genetic memory of water