Periodic Reporting for period 1 - eDNAqua-plan (A Plan towards an eDNA reference library and data repository for Aquatic Organisms, navigating Europe towards the next generation biodiversity monitoring)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-09-01 bis 2025-02-28
In the face of escalating climate change and the critical need for effective biodiversity conservation and management, the eDNAqua-Plan project addresses the challenges associated with aquatic environmental DNA-based (eDNA) monitoring. Despite its immense potential, the field faces hurdles such as the lack of standardised data formats, and the absence of a consolidated repository for eDNA data. These challenges hinder the seamless exchange of information, the sharing of limited reference material, and collaborative efforts within the scientific community, limiting the full realisation of eDNA's power in biodiversity monitoring.
The objectives of the project are:
-Harmonised and Standardised Data Infrastructure for aquatic eDNA data, promoting consistency and comparability across monitoring and research endeavours;
-An integrated Reference Library with open-access for marine and freshwater species facilitating easy access to eDNA information and supporting researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders in their conservation efforts;
-Advance aquatic biomonitoring data through eDNA, providing a crucial tool for understanding and addressing the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems
-Global collaboration creating an international network of researchers and institutions working together to advance our understanding of aquatic biodiversity.
eDNAqua-Plan aims to create a FAIR-based digital ecosystem for eDNA repositories and a dynamic species reference library to support future biodiversity monitoring initiatives in marine and freshwater ecosystems. eDNAqua-Plan will connect with existing reference libraries, assess existing standards to implement, and identify key monitoring projects and programmes that the system needs to support. The overall goal is to support future biodiversity monitoring initiatives in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The objectives of the project are:
-Harmonised and Standardised Data Infrastructure for aquatic eDNA data, promoting consistency and comparability across monitoring and research endeavours;
-An integrated Reference Library with open-access for marine and freshwater species facilitating easy access to eDNA information and supporting researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders in their conservation efforts;
-Advance aquatic biomonitoring data through eDNA, providing a crucial tool for understanding and addressing the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems
-Global collaboration creating an international network of researchers and institutions working together to advance our understanding of aquatic biodiversity.
eDNAqua-Plan aims to create a FAIR-based digital ecosystem for eDNA repositories and a dynamic species reference library to support future biodiversity monitoring initiatives in marine and freshwater ecosystems. eDNAqua-Plan will connect with existing reference libraries, assess existing standards to implement, and identify key monitoring projects and programmes that the system needs to support. The overall goal is to support future biodiversity monitoring initiatives in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
During the first 18 months, eDNAqua-Plan successfully launched all five Work Packages, delivering major milestones and laying the groundwork for future objectives and final plan for the digital architecture the project will propose. WP2 completed a comprehensive audit and gap analysis across DNA barcoding and eDNA initiatives, generating extensive inventories and highlighting metadata and taxonomic coverage gaps. WP3 progressed on data standardisation and ecosystem mapping, developing frameworks for interoperable genetic reference libraries and eDNA repositories. WP3 colleagues have also been presenting the work in high profile conferences and working groups to raise awareness and gather input from international stakeholders. WP4 tested these infrastructures using 22 real-world aquatic biodiversity datasets, identifying operational challenges and providing recommendations to improve data workflows being developed. WP5 initiated the development of a blueprint and roadmap for a harmonised eDNA digital ecosystem in Europe. Strong coordination, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication (WP1) further contributed to the project’s visibility and implementation.
eDNAqua-Plan advances beyond the state-of-the-art by: i) Integrating eDNA and DNA barcoding data into a conceptual FAIR-compliant ecosystem; ii) Pioneering the alignment of metadata standards (e.g. DwC-MIxS, ENA checklists) for aquatic eDNA monitoring; iii) Applying Large Language Models (LLMs) for semi-automated literature mining in biodiversity monitoring; iv) Delivering the first inter-project workshop-based vision of a pan-European, interoperable eDNA infrastructure; v) Generating policy-relevant recommendations based on field-tested data from marine and freshwater ecosystems; vi) Contributing to Open Science and data FAIRification by publishing deliverables, standards, and repositories access pathways for community use; and vii) fostering international collaboration and buy-in to the plans in development.