What is eDNA method standardisation and why do we need it?
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.
Authors
- Rachel J. Brown
- Rachel T. Noble (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9071-8312)
- Zachary Gold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0490-7630)
- Joshua A. Steele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8023-8956)
- Joseph M. Craine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6561-3244)
- Susanna Theroux (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9812-7856)
- Adam J. Sepulveda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7621-7028)
- John A. Darling (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4776-9533)
- Margaret E. Hunter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-9302)
- Cathryn L. Abbott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5314-7351)
- Miwa Takahashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8952-051X)
- Devin N. Jones (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9215-2930)
- Katy E. Klymus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8843-6241)
- Shana Lee Hirsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3131-1701)
- Alison Watts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9700-6393)
Institutions
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (US)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Environmental Protection Agency (US)
- Research Triangle Park Foundation (US)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA)
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US)
- University of New Hampshire (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (US)
- Whitney Museum of American Art (US)
- Health Sciences and Nutrition (AU)
- Jonah’s Just Begun (US)
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
- Columbia Environmental Research Center
- Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
- Seattle University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Metabarcoding and Metagenomics
- Published
- 2025-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.9.132076
- Citations
- 11
- Primary Topic
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 18.88
Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service