IMIS - Marine Research Groups

Many organisms release DNA molecules in the marine environment through the excretion of faeces, mucus, gametes or the release of scales and skin cells. This eDNA can be collected in a non-destructive way just by simply sampling and filtering water. However, the application of eDNA sampling as monitoring tool in highly dynamic and relatively shallow systems such as the North Sea is still in its infancy. Our own preliminary results in the North Sea are promising and show that spatial differences in diversity can be picked up with eDNA and that local eDNA concentrations correlate well with abundances of target species in the locations. The benefit of eDNA sampling lays in the zero impact on marine life when only water is collected. Moreover, the eDNA method offers long-term benefits, since it has the potential for automatic and autonomous sample collection through the use of robotics like AUVs.