Application of Environmental DNA in the Air for Monitoring Biodiversity

There is a profound interdependence between biodiversity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Biodiversity underpins the functioning of global ecosystems and human welfare, and the achievement of numerous SDGs is directly or indirectly linked to protecting and sustainably managing biodiversity. In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) technology has exerted a great impact in the field of biodiversity monitoring. Airborne eDNA plays a significant role due to its non-invasive nature and the ability to monitor multiple taxonomic groups simultaneously. This review summarizes the technical principles, sampling methods, data analysis strategies of airborne eDNA and its application in biodiversity monitoring. In addition, it discusses the current technical challenges (e.g., pollution control, degradation mechanisms, and quantitative analysis) in the field, as well as future development directions, including optimizing sampling strategies, developing specific primers, integrating environmental RNA (eRNA), and establishing standardized monitoring systems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of airborne eDNA technology to promote airborne wide application of eDNA in global biodiversity monitoring.