From Water to Land: A Review on the Applications of Environmental DNA and Invertebrate‐Derived DNA for Monitoring Terrestrial and Semi‐Aquatic Mammals

Broadhurst, Holly A.; Sales, Naiara Guimarães; Raynor, Robert; Howe, Claire; Ochu, Erinma; Lambin, Xavier; Sutherland, Christopher S.; McDevitt, Allan D.

Abstract

Terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammals are facing increasing threats globally, highlighting the need for reliable data on species' occurrence, distribution, and abundance for effective conservation efforts. However, obtaining reliable and robust information over broad spatial and temporal scales remains a significant challenge. Environmental DNA (eDNA) and invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) applications have emerged as powerful surveying methods, with the potential to revolutionise ecological monitoring by improving species detections and providing better insights into mammalian distribution and diversity. While eDNA relies on genetic material shed by species into their surroundings, iDNA leverages DNA from invertebrates that interact with mammals. Both approaches offer a cost-effective means to obtain species records and community diversity metrics.
This review explores global applications of e/iDNA for surveying terrestrial and semi-aquatic mammals. By providing a comprehensive overview of the applications, sampling design, challenges, and prospects, this review serves as a guide to researchers and conservationists seeking to use eDNA for mammalian conservation efforts. By evaluating the current state of e/iDNA applications, this review identifies the challenges and milestones that need to be addressed for these methods to become a practical method for monitoring mammals on a global scale. It highlights the need for further research to enhance the sensitivity and reliability of e/iDNA detections, standardisation of methodologies, and validation through comparison with traditional monitoring methods. This review sheds light on the potential of e/iDNA as valuable tools for aiding mammal conservation and inspiring future research and advancements in this field.

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2025
• Online Publication Date: May 5, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jul 1, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: May 6, 2026
• Journal: Mammal Review
• Print ISSN: 0305-1838
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2907
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.70006