Monitoring stations that already test for pollution could have dual purpose of mapping declines in biodiversity, reveals new study
From owls to hedgehogs to fungi, genetic material from plants and animals is being inadvertently hoovered up by air-quality monitoring stations around the world, creating an untapped “vault of biodiversity data”, according to a new scientific paper.
Globally, thousands of air filters are continually testing for heavy metals and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Scientists are now realising that this monitoring network is also picking up invisible traces of genetic material known as airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) from bits of hair, feathers, saliva and pollen.
About Author
More Stories
Man who falsely claimed to be bitcoin creator sentenced for continuing to sue developers
Esports are booming in Africa – but can its infrastructure keep pace?
AI learns to distinguish between aromas of US and Scottish whiskies