LOFRESH is a multi-institution collaborative initiative funded by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Highlight Topic grant to improve our ability to utilize environmental DNA (eDNA) for tracking the presence and abundance of species in and around freshwater habitats. Environmental DNA refers to shed cells or extracellular DNA from organisms as they pass through an environment (e.g. water, soil and air), or die and decay. By doing so, animals and plants leave traces of their DNA in the environment that can be detected using a number of molecular genetic approaches.
Here, we our experimental findings in tracking natural eDNA sources, during annual transit throughout the extremely well characterized river Conwy catchment, United Kingdom, and also assess relationships between eDNA and the community in diverse drainages experiencing different land uses and physicochemical characteristics.