Environmental DNA as a tool for ecosystem monitoring and conservation biology

The world grapples with the devastating loss of biodiversity, imperiling not only treasured species but also crucial genetic variation essential to food production, health, and safety. Conventional monitoring techniques struggle to detect rare species or juvenile life stages, necessitating innovative approaches. Environmental DNA (eDNA) enables non-invasive, cost-efficient biodiversity monitoring. Extracted from ancient and present materials, eDNA spans individual species identification to ecosystem-level studies, revolutionizing ecological preservation and conservation research. Technological hurdles persist despite advancements, mandating calibration and validation improvements to mitigate false positives and negatives. Enhanced understanding of eDNA’s physical and ecological constraints, synthesis, and potential modes of movement is imperative. This review summarizes commonly used protocols for eDNA-based detection of organisms in soil and water environments, the main uses of eDNA for aquatic and subterranean invasive species, and the difficulties and restrictions associated with eDNA metabarcoding. As a pivotal tool in ecological research, eDNA technology facilitates non-invasive biodiversity assessment and ecosystem monitoring amid environmental threats like habitat loss and climate change. Emphasizing historical evolution, methodological innovations, diverse applications, and conservation implications, this review underscores eDNA’s pivotal role and the ongoing need for refinement and technological advancement. Despite challenges, the widespread adoption of eDNA applications signifies its transformative potential in contemporary biomonitoring practices.