Biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems using genetic methods

©  LifeWatch ERIC

The second part of a DNAqua-Net workshop on “Biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems using genetic methods” was hosted virtually by the Cyprus University of Technology and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research on Friday, 12 March, 2021.  It presented to experts, and to the general public, the exciting potential of new, promising and rapidly-developing genetic methods for assessing biodiversity, and their use as monitoring tools.

The workshop provided in-depth information on the great potential of DNA and eDNA-based methods to experts involved in the practical implementation of these European Directives, and highlighted the status quo of the reference databases.

The presentations by IMBBC and CUT were followed by a discussion which emphasised the need for collaborative action between stakeholders (scientists in the fields of genetics, ecology and bioinformatics, policy makers, management bodies, NGOs, etc.) in order to standardise the methods used at national level so as to be able to engage in formal bio-monitoring actions on the ecological quality of aquatic ecosystems all across Europe.

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