A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives

In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring, recognized for its efficiency, convenience, and non-invasiveness. Despite its extensive application in various ecological studies, such as conservation, invasion biology, biomonit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ying Ke, Tong Liu, Chenglong Han, Xue Yu, Jinmei Wang, Laixing Ding, Hongliang Pan, Xunqiang Mo, Xueqiang Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:Avian Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000143
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850179322005946368
author Ying Ke
Tong Liu
Chenglong Han
Xue Yu
Jinmei Wang
Laixing Ding
Hongliang Pan
Xunqiang Mo
Xueqiang Lu
author_facet Ying Ke
Tong Liu
Chenglong Han
Xue Yu
Jinmei Wang
Laixing Ding
Hongliang Pan
Xunqiang Mo
Xueqiang Lu
author_sort Ying Ke
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring, recognized for its efficiency, convenience, and non-invasiveness. Despite its extensive application in various ecological studies, such as conservation, invasion biology, biomonitoring and biodiversity survey assessment, its use in avian monitoring remains in its infancy. This review critically examines the potential and limitations of eDNA technology for avian monitoring, focusing on current advancements and ongoing challenges in this emerging field. Water and air are the primary environmental media for collecting avian eDNA, although other sources like spider webs and plant flowers have been explored as well. Notably, airborne eDNA has been reported to capture the highest diversity of avian species. While avian eDNA technology has shown promise for monitoring rare and endangered species and assessing avian diversity, significant challenges remain, particularly in sampling strategies, DNA extraction methodology, primer selection, and ascertain abundance. Additionally, we discussed the factors influencing the production, transportation, and degradation of avian eDNA in the environment. Finally, we suggested future research directions, including optimizing sampling strategies, developing avian-specific universal primers, expanding avian DNA barcode databases, enhancing eDNA detectability, and integrating environmental RNA (eRNA) and eDNA approaches.
format Article
id doaj-art-5a0bbe8022624b1aab99ecdeda8889b2
institution OA Journals
issn 2053-7166
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Avian Research
spelling doaj-art-5a0bbe8022624b1aab99ecdeda8889b22025-08-20T02:18:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Avian Research2053-71662025-06-0116210023510.1016/j.avrs.2025.100235A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectivesYing Ke0Tong Liu1Chenglong Han2Xue Yu3Jinmei Wang4Laixing Ding5Hongliang Pan6Xunqiang Mo7Xueqiang Lu8Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, ChinaTianjin Huanke Testing Technology Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300191, ChinaTianjin Huanke Testing Technology Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300191, ChinaTianjin Huanke Testing Technology Co., Ltd, Tianjin, 300191, ChinaFaculty of Geography, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, 300387, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution and Tianjin International Joint Research Center for Environmental Biogeochemical Technology, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China; Corresponding author.In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) has garnered significant attention as a novel tool in biodiversity monitoring, recognized for its efficiency, convenience, and non-invasiveness. Despite its extensive application in various ecological studies, such as conservation, invasion biology, biomonitoring and biodiversity survey assessment, its use in avian monitoring remains in its infancy. This review critically examines the potential and limitations of eDNA technology for avian monitoring, focusing on current advancements and ongoing challenges in this emerging field. Water and air are the primary environmental media for collecting avian eDNA, although other sources like spider webs and plant flowers have been explored as well. Notably, airborne eDNA has been reported to capture the highest diversity of avian species. While avian eDNA technology has shown promise for monitoring rare and endangered species and assessing avian diversity, significant challenges remain, particularly in sampling strategies, DNA extraction methodology, primer selection, and ascertain abundance. Additionally, we discussed the factors influencing the production, transportation, and degradation of avian eDNA in the environment. Finally, we suggested future research directions, including optimizing sampling strategies, developing avian-specific universal primers, expanding avian DNA barcode databases, enhancing eDNA detectability, and integrating environmental RNA (eRNA) and eDNA approaches.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000143AvianBiodiversityBiological monitoringeDNAeRNA
spellingShingle Ying Ke
Tong Liu
Chenglong Han
Xue Yu
Jinmei Wang
Laixing Ding
Hongliang Pan
Xunqiang Mo
Xueqiang Lu
A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
Avian Research
Avian
Biodiversity
Biological monitoring
eDNA
eRNA
title A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
title_full A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
title_fullStr A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
title_full_unstemmed A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
title_short A review of eDNA technology in avian monitoring: Current status, challenges and future perspectives
title_sort review of edna technology in avian monitoring current status challenges and future perspectives
topic Avian
Biodiversity
Biological monitoring
eDNA
eRNA
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2053716625000143
work_keys_str_mv AT yingke areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT tongliu areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT chenglonghan areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xueyu areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT jinmeiwang areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT laixingding areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT hongliangpan areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xunqiangmo areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xueqianglu areviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT yingke reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT tongliu reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT chenglonghan reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xueyu reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT jinmeiwang reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT laixingding reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT hongliangpan reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xunqiangmo reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives
AT xueqianglu reviewofednatechnologyinavianmonitoringcurrentstatuschallengesandfutureperspectives