Meta-analysis shows that environmental DNA outperforms traditional surveys, but warrants better reporting standards.

ABSTRACT: Decades of environmental DNA (eDNA) method application, spanning a wide variety of taxa and habitats, has advanced our understanding of eDNA and underlined its value as a tool for conservation practitioners. The general consensus is that eDNA methods are more accurate and cost-effective than traditional survey methods. However, they are formally approved for just a few species globally (e.g., Bighead Carp, Silver Carp, Great Crested Newt). We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that directly compare eDNA with traditional surveys to evaluate the assertion that eDNA methods are consistently "better."Environmental DNA publications for multiple species or single macro-organism detection were identified using the Web of Science, by searching "eDNA" and "environmental DNA" across papers publish

SUBMITTER: Fediajevaite J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8093654 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature