The loss of biodiversity and species extinction is a growing concern worldwide, but quantifying those losses at a large scale has been a difficult task.
However, recent research suggests that air quality stations could provide a game-changing solution. Unbeknownst to many, these stations have been quietly collecting vast amounts of environmental DNA (eDNA) for decades, and this data could be critical for tracking global biodiversity.
eDNA is a type of DNA that is shed from organisms into their environment. By analyzing this DNA, researchers are able to identify which species are present in an area. This is where air quality stations come in – the filters used to collect air samples also happen to collect eDNA.
This means that the data collected from these stations could be used to create a global biodiversity monitoring network. The potential impact of such a network is huge, both for conservation efforts and for scientists studying ecosystems.
By analyzing the eDNA collected by these stations, researchers could identify areas where biodiversity is under threat and take steps to protect those species. For example, if a particular species is found to be scarce in a certain region, conservationists can work to ensure that it is not wiped out by taking appropriate measures to protect it.
If this vast amount of data is analyzed properly, air quality stations could be a major asset in the fight to protect global biodiversity.
Edited by Zeng Han-Jun
Written by Juliana Rodriguez
Terra Link Research 