The University of West of England and the Woodland Creation & Ecological Network (WrEN) were keen to test the hypothesis that relative levels of avian species richness within woodlands can be measured by extracting and identifying DNA filtered from the air.

This project sought to test whether an emerging method of extracting DNA from the air has the potential to become a robust and efficient tool for monitoring bird species in Scottish woodlands to indicate changes in woodland ecology.

Outcomes

The report below confirms that “DNA filtered directly from air samples (airDNA) is showing great promise as a tool for surveying biological assemblages. This study provides evidence that air samples, taken in a natural, open environment, can provide estimates of species richness for a targeted taxonomic group that are analogous to estimates produced using standard survey techniques. airDNA and audio-visual surveys were carried out across sixteen small broadleaf woodlands in central Scotland. While the total species richness recorded by airDNA was lower than that of the standard survey, rarefaction analysis provided comparable estimates. Our study demonstrates that airDNA survey may represent a viable complement to existing biodiversity monitoring methods and, with refinement and the development of a best practice approach, could become a rapid, reliable and non-invasive standalone surveying technique.”

Read the report …