Evidence to frame conservation questions.
Detection, genetic diversity and connectivity offer different perspectives on biodiversity. The value of each approach depends on the question and the conservation context.
Which decision needs more information?
Conservation planning may involve monitoring groups of interest, investigating differences between populations or discussing connectivity. Each question requires its own scale and study design.
Defining the information that is missing helps distinguish a question about detection from one about genetic diversity. Results need to be considered alongside ecology, population history and the management context.
Detect organisms and investigate populations.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) can help investigate signals from groups of interest and track detections within a monitoring design. Identifying biological material through DNA barcoding can support other study questions.
Population genetics and genomics allows diversity and structure to be discussed based on the individuals and markers analyzed. Connectivity hypotheses require consideration of the temporal scale and analytical assumptions.
Combine perspectives with a clear purpose.
The choice among eDNA, molecular identification and population genetics and genomics should start with the information needed. Different methods do not produce equivalent evidence, nor does every project need to include all of them.
Conventional surveys, environmental records and ecological knowledge remain part of the interpretation. The molecular contribution should be made explicit within this body of evidence.
Uncertainty is part of the evidence.
Failure to detect DNA does not prove absolute absence. A detection also needs to be interpreted in light of transport, persistence, controls and the method's resolution.
The number of eDNA sequences does not directly provide population size. Genetic results alone neither define a conservation strategy nor replace a full ecological assessment.
Design the study around the conservation need.
MetaGen can discuss the question, available material and suitability of the analyses. Sampling, groups of interest and expected limitations should be aligned before the scope is defined.
Present the conservation context, hypotheses and available evidence. The initial discussion helps identify where molecular information can contribute.
What evidence is missing for your conservation question?
Tell us about the project context, environment and the question you need to answer. An initial conversation helps define the approach and scope.