About this Research Topic
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is extra-organismal genetic material from a target species, which allows us to detect the presence or recent presence of species without direct observation or capturing whole organisms. The idea of using eDNA and molecular analysis to infer organism presence has repeatedly and independently occurred in aquatic research. Advances in eDNA-based identification are expected to improve the sensitivity, accuracy and cost-effectiveness of monitoring and subsequent assessments. Thus, eDNA analysis has rapidly developed into a promising tool across a large variety of research fields including biodiversity assessment, alien invasive species monitoring, rare species conservation, etc. Furthermore, the fast pace of development and improvements in next-generation sequencing technologies may open opportunities for broader and more robust applications in eDNA research.
While Peer-reviewed studies demonstrating eDNA methods or results have not been widely applied to aquatic environmental assessment, this Research Topic aims to stimulate interdisciplinary research on the application of eDNA methods or results in aquatic environmental assessment, especially rivers, lakes or bay areas in east Asia.
The bays and riversides of East Asia are densely populated areas. In recent years, with the increasing population activities, the aquatic environment has undergone dramatic changes. The problems of biological invasion, biodiversity, and rare animal conservation have gradually received more and more attention, and the application of eDNA method should play an important role in the assessment of aquatic environments.
This Research Topic aims to collect research in the following areas:
• Improvement of aquatic environment eDNA method and process
• eDNA monitoring of invasive species in a wild aquatic environment or water ballast
• Using eDNA to detect the activity traces of aquatic rare animals
• Assessment of anthropogenic impacts on aquatic biodiversity using eDNA method
While Peer-reviewed studies demonstrating eDNA methods or results have not been widely applied to aquatic environmental assessment, this Research Topic aims to stimulate interdisciplinary research on the application of eDNA methods or results in aquatic environmental assessment, especially rivers, lakes or bay areas in east Asia.
The bays and riversides of East Asia are densely populated areas. In recent years, with the increasing population activities, the aquatic environment has undergone dramatic changes. The problems of biological invasion, biodiversity, and rare animal conservation have gradually received more and more attention, and the application of eDNA method should play an important role in the assessment of aquatic environments.
This Research Topic aims to collect research in the following areas:
• Improvement of aquatic environment eDNA method and process
• eDNA monitoring of invasive species in a wild aquatic environment or water ballast
• Using eDNA to detect the activity traces of aquatic rare animals
• Assessment of anthropogenic impacts on aquatic biodiversity using eDNA method
Keywords: Environmental DNA, Aquatic environment, Biodiversity, Invasive species, Rare wild species
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
