Airborne environmental DNA as a new applied tool for industry, research and regulatory approaches

监测生物多样性是一项具有重要商业意义的业务，估计每年价值100亿美元。需求包括政府监管监测和石油和天然气、自然资源管理、金融和供应链利益等行业，以及评估生物修复成功等活动。由于生物多样性的测量具有挑战性，研究人员和公司越来越多地采用基于DNA的工具来改进这些测量。DNA样本通常直接从个人身上采集，作为血液样本、一块组织或脸颊拭子。然而，所有的生物也会像足迹一样留下环境(E)DNA。收集这种材料在水生系统中作为一种非侵入性的生物监测方法已经变得特别有用。克莱尔实验室最近开发了一个原型采样设备，并证明了可以直接从空气样本中过滤掉埃德娜。这是监测陆地生物多样性的一个巨大的新工具。NatureMetrics是世界上最大的EDNA分析公司，总部设在英国，北美的NatureMetrics公司位于安大略省圭尔夫市。在这项提议中，NatureMetrics North America和Clare Lab正在合作开发基于空气的采样作为一种新的商业服务。他们将使用克莱尔实验室开发的原型和一个专门的野外位置来验证采样策略，以准确评估动物群落，例如栖息地和洞穴。验证将包括采样设备的时间安排和部署以及物种恢复的建模。成功将使NatureMetrics North American成为世界上第一家将Edna空气采样作为商业服务提供的公司。

Monitoring biodiversity is a commercially important business estimated at $10 billion annually. Demand includes government regulatory monitoring and sectors such as oil and gas, natural resource management, financial and supply chain interests and activities such as assessing the success of bio-remediation. Because measurement of biodiversity is challenging researchers and companies are increasingly incorporating DNA-based tools to refine these measurements.A DNA sample is normally collected directly from an individual, as a blood sample, piece of tissue or perhaps a cheek swab. However, all organisms also leave environmental (e)DNA behind like footprints. Collecting this material has become particularly useful in aquatic systems as a non-invasive method of biomonitoring. The Clare Lab recently developed a prototype sampling device and demonstrated that eDNA can be filtered directly out of air samples. This is a tremendous new tool to monitor terrestrial biodiversity. NatureMetrics is the world's largest eDNA analytical company with headquarters in the UK and NatureMetrics North America located in Guelph Ontario. In this proposal, NatureMetrics North America and the Clare Lab are teaming up to develop air-based sampling as a new commercial offering. They will use the prototype developed by the Clare Lab and a specialised field location to validate a sampling strategy to accurately assess animal communities e.g., in roosts and caves. Validation will include the timing and deployment of sampling devices and modeling species recovery. Success will allow NatureMetrics North American to become the first company in the world providing eDNA air sampling as a commercial service.