What is eDNA method standardisation and why do we need it?

Theroux, Susanna; Sepulveda, Adam; Abbott, Cathryn L.; Gold, Zachary; Watts, Alison W.; Hunter, Margaret E.; Klymus, Katy E.; Hirsch, Shana Lee; Craine, Joseph M.; Jones, Devin N.; Brown, Rachel J.; Steele, Joshua A.; Takahashi, Miwa; Noble, Rachel T.; Darling, John A.

doi:10.3897/mbmg.9.132076

i

What is eDNA method standardisation and why do we need it?

2025
By Theroux, Susanna ; Sepulveda, Adam ; Abbott, Cathryn L. ; ...

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Journal Title:

Metabarcoding and Metagenomics
Personal Author:

Theroux, Susanna ; Sepulveda, Adam ; Abbott, Cathryn L. ; Gold, Zachary ; Watts, Alison W. ; Hunter, Margaret E. ; Klymus, Katy E. ; Hirsch, Shana Lee ; Craine, Joseph M. ; Jones, Devin N. ; Brown, Rachel J. ; Steele, Joshua A. ; Takahashi, Miwa ; Noble, Rachel T. ; Darling, John A.
NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; PMEL (Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)
Description:

The rapid advancement of environmental DNA (eDNA) science in the past two decades has inspired a concomitant growth in the development of eDNA sampling and analytical methods. However, these methods are often developed by individual laboratories or institutions, which can isolate protocols within programmes, agencies or regions and prevent the beneficial exchange of data and ideas. Recent efforts to advance national and international coordination have resulted in a groundswell of standardisation efforts, but there is still considerable confusion around the role of formal standards for regulatory or research applications. With this commentary, we hope to provide clarity on the terminology used in standardisation discussions, including the differences between formal standards and best practice guidelines. Additionally, we discuss how eDNA method choice may be informed by environmental management scenarios and review examples of formal eDNA method standards being used to inform management action. The eDNA community now has an opportunity to develop a roadmap for method development to help close standardisation gaps, advance eDNA method adoption and accelerate our ability to monitor biological life at the scales our current environmental challenges demand.
Source:

Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, 9
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.9.132076
ISSN:

2534-9708
Format:

PDF
Publisher:

Pensoft Publishers
Document Type:

Journal Article
License:

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
Rights Information:

CC0 Public Domain
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:22a3f9eb3ff1734692199f4395a62bc6ddf8632eba1896c2a0750487571ca1efc982a37766e64ff2d1869cc7fff3583ceba5edc36d8946263ffcfc384784f799
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/70145/noaa_70145_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 757.04 KB ]

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