{"id":2,"date":"2024-07-02T18:37:08","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T16:37:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/protectedna\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-12-10T08:01:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T07:01:01","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/protectedna\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Background<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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In light of the global biodiversity crisis, designated protected areas (PAs) have an increasingly important role in providing refuge for plant and animal species and halting the ongoing sixth mass extinction. In order to comprehensively detect changes in species diversity and respond with optimally planned management of specific PAs, the acquisition of precise data on the status of protected species and respective habitats is necessary. However, this may be a large challenge due to a lack of experts for species determination, difficult terrain, or resource shortage. Here, novel approaches may help to conduct feasible and precise biodiversity monitoring.<\/p>

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Project Summary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The project ProTecteDNA<\/strong> focuses on biodiversity data acquisition from environmental DNA (eDNA). <\/strong>eDNA consists of molecules that are present in the environment in different forms, from DNA fragments to cells, hair, scales, tissue particles or whole organisms. The detection of eDNA and species determination can be done in an efficient, scalable and affordable way and thus promote successful biodiversity monitoring. Due to technology advances over the last two decades, the use of genetic methods in biodiversity assessment has become widespread and often already passed experimental and demonstrative level of technology readiness. The metabarcoding of diverse taxa requires dedicated facilities and expensive equipment, such as certified laboratories and sequencing devices, respectively. However, new technologies have given rise to novel innovative approaches that make DNA-based methods affordable and applicable for biodiversity monitoring without major infrastructure and research teams of molecular biologists. In the project, a portable laboratory will be tested for its implementation of biodiversity assessment in freshwater habitats of protected areas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Project Goals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ProTecteDNA aims at implementation of eDNA-based metabarcoding approaches in the settings of freshwater fauna of PAs and therefore support transformative change towards efficient biodiversity monitoring.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The following analysis steps will be address in order to provide information on species detection using eDNA:<\/p>

  1. eDNA sample collection using sampling kits<\/li>
  2. DNA extraction using a portable laboratory<\/li>
  3. DNA sequencing using MinION Nanopore device<\/li>
  4. Data analysis with open-source bioinformatics pipeline<\/li><\/ol><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    The most suitable data formats will be determined, with a focus on data homogeneity and interoperability across different steps of analysis. The majority of raw data will include nucleic sequences files with tabular text files. To guarantee long-term use of the ProTecteDNA data and results, the curation will be hosted in persistent institutional information systems during the project. Long-term accessibility will be ensured by uploading data and metadata to community repositories ad made publicly available.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Project progress<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Sampling was performed at the Geotag at Petzen, Nockberge, in the National Park Hohe Tauern and at the River Vellach in Carinthia, Austria. DNA was extracted from the filters and amplified. The data has been analysed and is currently prepared for publication.<\/p>\n

    An outcome of the project was presented at two conferences and in a seminar for stakeholders at the UNESCO Chair Brownbag Seminar: How do portable tools enable to assess freshwater biodiversity in protected areas using eDNA, Vid<\/a><\/p>

    The protocols used in the project are being uploaded to the UNESCO Chair protocols.io portal: https:\/\/www.protocols.io\/researchers\/vid-vara<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    Contact principal investigator<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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