Winds of Change: Charting a Pathway to Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental DNA

Rachel L. Tulloch; Clare I. M. Adams; Matthew A. Barnes; Elizabeth L. Clare; Henrik C. van de Ven; Andrew Cridge; Francisco Encinas-Viso; Kristen Fernandes; Dianne M. Gleeson; Erin Hill; Anna J. M. Hopkins; Anna M. Kearns; Gracie C. Kroos; Anna J. MacDonald; Francesco Martoni; Angela McGaughran; Todd G. B. McLay; Linda E. Neaves; Paul Nevill; Andrew Pugh; Kye J. Robinson; Fabian Roger; Tracey V. Steinrucken; Mieke van der Heyde; Cecilia Villacorta-Rath; Jenny Vivian; Erin E. Hahn

doi:10.1002/edn3.70134

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Winds of Change: Charting a Pathway to Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental DNA

Journal article

Open access

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Winds of Change: Charting a Pathway to Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental DNA

Rachel L. Tulloch, Clare I. M. Adams, Matthew A. Barnes, Elizabeth L. Clare, Henrik C. van de Ven, Andrew Cridge, Francisco Encinas-Viso, Kristen Fernandes, Dianne M. Gleeson, Erin Hill, …

Environmental DNA, Vol.7(4), pp.1-12

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.70134

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Abstract

aerobiology

airborne eDNA

biodiversity

biosecurity

conservation

eolian

implementation

monitoring

southern eDNA society

terrestrial

Airborne environmental DNA (airborne eDNA) analysis leverages the globally ubiquitous medium of air to deliver broad species distribution data and support ecosystem monitoring across diverse environments. As this emerging technology matures, addressing critical challenges and seizing key opportunities will be essential to fully realize its potentially transformative impact. In June 2024, the Southern eDNA Society convened over 100 researchers, industry leaders, and biodiversity management stakeholders in a landmark workshop to evaluate the current state of airborne eDNA research and chart a course for future development. Participants explored opportunities for integrating airborne eDNA into existing monitoring systems, but they unanimously agreed that research must first be applied to improving understanding of airborne eDNA ecology. The workshop emphasized the importance of collaborative engagement with stakeholders—including government agencies, Indigenous communities, and citizen scientists—to ensure practical and ethical implementation. This summary highlights current challenges and actionable recommendations, including improving our understanding of airborne eDNA ecology, harmonizing sampling methodology (e.g., devices, materials, sampling density, duration), identifying and mitigating sources of error, and fostering early, sustained stakeholder collaboration. By addressing these challenges, airborne eDNA analysis can become a transformative tool for biodiversity, biosecurity, and conservation monitoring on a global scale. Its ability to detect diverse taxonomic groups—including fungi, plants, arthropods, microbes, and vertebrates—positions airborne eDNA as a pivotal technology for holistic terrestrial biodiversity assessments that transcend traditional, species‐focused monitoring approaches.

Details

Title: Winds of Change: Charting a Pathway to Ecosystem Monitoring Using Airborne Environmental DNA
Authors: Rachel L. Tulloch - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Clare I. M. Adams - University of Otago
Matthew A. Barnes - Texas Tech University
Elizabeth L. Clare - York University
Henrik C. van de Ven - Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Andrew Cridge - Scion
Francisco Encinas-Viso - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Kristen Fernandes - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Dianne M. Gleeson - University of Canberra
Erin Hill - CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
Anna J. M. Hopkins - Edith Cowan University
Anna M. Kearns - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Gracie C. Kroos - University of Otago
Anna J. MacDonald - Australian Antarctic Division
Francesco Martoni - Agriculture Victoria
Angela McGaughran - University of Waikato
Todd G. B. McLay - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Linda E. Neaves - Australian National University
Paul Nevill - Curtin University
Andrew Pugh - Scion
Kye J. Robinson - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Fabian Roger
Tracey V. Steinrucken - CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
Mieke van der Heyde - Curtin University
Cecilia Villacorta-Rath - James Cook University
Jenny Vivian - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Research Institute
Erin E. Hahn - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Publication details: Environmental DNA, Vol.7(4), pp.1-12
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1002/edn3.70134
ISSN: 2637-4943
Copyright note: © 2025 The Author(s). Environmental DNA published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Data Availability: The authors have nothing to report.
Grant note: This work was supported by Centre for Biodiversity Analysis, Synthesis Group Grant.
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991153836902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology

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