Molecular & eDNA Techniques

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis detects species from trace genetic material shed into water through skin cells, mucus, feces, and gametes. A single liter of seawater can yield DNA from dozens of fish species without catching or even seeing a single individual. First applied to freshwater systems in the 2010s, eDNA metabarcoding has rapidly expanded to marine contexts, enabling non-invasive biodiversity surveys of everything from harbor fish communities to deep-sea vent fauna. The technique is transforming marine monitoring by dramatically reducing survey costs and ecological disturbance.