Environmental DNA as an emerging tool in botanical research |
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| Authors: | Mark D. Johnson Joanna R. Freeland Laura Parducci Darren M. Evans Rachel S. Meyer Brenda Molano-Flores Mark A. Davis |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Engineering Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL), Champaign, IL, USA;2. Department of Biology, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2 Canada;3. Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;4. School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK;5. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA;6. Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA |
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| Abstract: | Over the past quarter century, environmental DNA (eDNA) has been ascendant as a tool to detect, measure, and monitor biodiversity (species and communities), as a means of elucidating biological interaction networks, and as a window into understanding past patterns of biodiversity. However, only recently has the potential of eDNA been realized in the botanical world. Here we synthesize the state of eDNA applications in botanical systems with emphases on aquatic, ancient, contemporary sediment, and airborne systems, and focusing on both single-species approaches and multispecies community metabarcoding. Further, we describe how abiotic and biotic factors, taxonomic resolution, primer choice, spatiotemporal scales, and relative abundance influence the utilization and interpretation of airborne eDNA results. Lastly, we explore several areas and opportunities for further development of eDNA tools for plants, advancing our knowledge and understanding of the efficacy, utility, and cost-effectiveness, and ultimately facilitating increased adoption of eDNA analyses in botanical systems. |
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| Keywords: | ancient botanical eDNA aquatic botanical eDNA botanical eDNA eDNA organism derived botanical eDNA review |
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