Environmental and Invertebrate-Derived DNA: A Powerful Approach for Surveying and Monitoring Biodiversity

Guimaraes Sales, Naiara

Abstract

To know the organisms that surround us has always seemed a fascinating idea and a necessity to characterize an area and estimate its natural values. However, performing complete surveys of the organisms is not always an easy task, because some of them inhabit difficult-to-access areas, and some are rare or difficult to be visualized. The analysis of the DNA retrieved from environmental samples (for example, water, soil and air) (eDNA) is a promising tool to study rapidly and efficiently the species that inhabit any place. This approach seems to show a lot of advantages over traditional biodiversity sampling due to its higher sensitivity and reduced cost and time needed. Similarly, the use of DNA derived from invertebrates (iDNA), such as blood-feed mosquitoes and carrion flies, can also be helpful for surveying animal communities, and it has been demonstrated to be an important tool to answer other questions, such as distribution, range, as well as interactions among coexisting species. In this chapter, we will demonstrate how eDNA and iDNA samples combined with molecular tools have been used to survey vertebrate and plant species in the Neotropics, highlighting the potential of this approach for conservation strategies.

Citation

Guimaraes Sales, N. (2023). Environmental and Invertebrate-Derived DNA: A Powerful Approach for Surveying and Monitoring Biodiversity. In P. M. Galetti Jr. (Ed.), Conservation Genetics in the Neotropics. (1). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34854-9

• Online Publication Date: Aug 29, 2023
• Publication Date: Aug 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2023
• Publisher: Springer
• Series Title: Conservation Genetics in the Neotropics
• Edition: 1
• Book Title: Conservation Genetics in the Neotropics
• ISBN: 9783031348532
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34854-9