Project description
eDNA-based approach for the EU Mission Ocean strategy
The EU has set a goal to restore oceans and waters by 2030. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can play a crucial role in achieving this objective. However, the implementation of eDNA-based methods faces challenges due to incomplete and disconnected reference libraries, as well as a lack of harmonised metadata. The EU-funded eDNAqua-plan project aligns with the EU Mission Ocean strategy. It focuses on gathering information about aquatic monitoring projects, initiatives, and infrastructures. The project will assess the feasibility of establishing a digital ecosystem of eDNA repositories and a reference library of marine and freshwater species. The goal is to support aquatic biodiversity monitoring programmes and develop a standardised approach for aquatic monitoring using eDNA tools.
Objective
The EU Mission to restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030 relies on robust, reliable and ideally real-time biodiversity data. The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water or sediment, represents a major source of innovation in aquatic ecosystem monitoring with great potential to support the EU Mission. The central limitation for the routine implementation of eDNA-based methods are incomplete, disconnected and non-standardized reference libraries for taxonomic assignment as well as a lack of harmonised metadata. To support the coordination of the EU Mission Ocean strategy, eDNAqua-Plan will 1) collect information on existing projects, initiatives and infrastructures for aquatic monitoring in the EU and associated countries, 2) provide an overview of all national and international activities of standardization and interoperationalisation of methods and data workflows and 3) assess the relevance and feasibility of the creation of a digital ecosystem of eDNA repositories and an integrated and dynamic reference library of marine and freshwater species that is open-access and based on FAIR principles to support future aquatic biodiversity monitoring programmes and mapping initiatives. The interdisciplinary eDNAqua-Plan consortium comprises 18 partner institutions from 11 countries, and one international (UN) institute, with complementary expertise in marine and freshwater monitoring, eDNA analysis as well as data science. The consortium cooperates with the large EU research projects and infrastructure such as EMODnet, BIOSCAN-Europe, the Ocean and Water knowledge system, LifeWatch, and international systems (ELIXIR/EBI and OBIS) etc. to maximise synergies and interoperability internationally. Possible implementation will be demonstrated by use cases from national and transnational water monitoring programs. Based on this, eDNAqua-Plan will deliver a roadmap for harmonized aquatic monitoring using eDNA tools in Europe and beyond.
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HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
75005 Paris
France
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Participants (17)
4704 553 Braga
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75006 Paris
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90-136 LODZ
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75007 Paris
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69117 Heidelberg
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1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
8400 OOSTENDE
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41071 Sevilla
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57001 Thermi Thessaloniki
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75007 Paris
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00790 Helsinki
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46010 Valencia
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9820 Merelbeke
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0579 Oslo
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4485-661 VAIRAO, VILA DO CONDE
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6708 PB Wageningen
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45141 Essen
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