A group of scientists in America has started a new study to protect endangered animal species. Researchers have developed a new method for understanding the characteristics and habitats of species. Two scientific papers in which the team describes their method of obtaining data from airborne DNA of animals were published in the journal Current Biology.
The method of obtaining information about animals was quite interesting. With the help of a tool developed to vacuum the air, the researchers gathered information about the animal species living in the area. “We’re literally sucking DNA from the sky,” says Elizabeth Clare, a molecular ecologist at York University in Canada and co-author of the study. ” he explained.
Air vacuuming method gave information about animal species
Environmental DNA or “eDNA” is emitted from the dead skin cells or feces of organisms. Examination of these data gives information about the living species in the region. The scientists designed a tool that uses eDNA data from the environment to gather information about the diversity of terrestrial animal species.
Thanks to the vehicle, traces of animals in the environment were detected. Today, eDNA data is already used to monitor the biodiversity of animals, from fish to microorganisms, living in water or soil. A team of biologists and ecologists has discovered this new method of using eDNA in the air to track land animals such as birds and mammals as well.
In some cases, especially when examining endangered animal species, it may not be appropriate to observe them in order not to harm them. However, with this eDNA system, it is possible to find traces of the animal even if it is not physically in that area. The method the researchers used worked very well, with their work at the zoo able to access DNA from 25 different animal species in the UK and 49 in Denmark.
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