The Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (FRNR) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, hosted an introductory course on the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) in environmental monitoring on 18th – 19th July, 2024. The course was designed specifically for FRNR lecturers and postgraduate students, providing them with foundational knowledge and practical insights into the use of eDNA in environmental science. The session was led by Dr. Kingsly Chuo Beng, the Founder and Board Chair of Youth Opportunity Network for Growth (Y.O.N.G), who brought his extensive expertise in environmental biomonitoring to the forefront of the discussion.
Background
Global warming is causing unprecedented environmental changes that negatively affect biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing. Our ability to prevent, minimize, or reverse these impacts is hampered by incomplete data on species occurrence, distribution, abundance, diversity, interactions, habitat preference, and tolerance. Obtaining this information has traditionally relied on time-consuming, labour-intensive, costly, invasive, and expert-dependent methods. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a promising tool for rapid, accurate, and non-invasive biodiversity monitoring, and has been successfully used to monitor species of interest and to characterize whole communities. The use of eDNA has the potential to revolutionize biodiversity research in several ways.
We are pleased to invite you to a 2-day (18th and 19th July) introductory course on the application of eDNA in environmental monitoring. This course is being organized by Dr. Kingsly Chuo Beng (Thunen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Germany), Dr. Mohammed Armani and Dr. Kwasi Adu Obirikorang (FRNR, KNUST) in collaboration with the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources (KNUST), and supported by The eDNA Collaborative, University of Washington (https://www.ednacollab.org/).
Course content
The introductory course will focus on the application of eDNA methods in environmental biomonitoring. Special attention will be given to hands-on exercises and case studies, promoting active engagement and critical thinking. The course will cover the following modules:
Module 1: Introduction to eDNA will provide an overview, including the definition and sources of eDNA. This module will highlight the significance of eDNA for non-invasive and highly sensitive monitoring of species, its ability to detect rare or elusive species and its broad utility in studying and managing ecosystems and biological diversity.
Module 2: eDNA Experimental Design will focus on the critical aspects of effectively planning and successfully executing eDNA studies. It emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate sampling methods and locations and implementing controls and replication to ensure data reliability.
Module 3: eDNA Sampling, Preservation, and Storage will outline the best practices for collecting, preserving, and storing eDNA samples to maintain their integrity. It covers various sampling techniques tailored to different environments, such as water filtration for aquatic habitats and soil sampling for terrestrial environments. The module emphasizes the importance of immediate and proper preservation methods, such as using buffers or freezing, to prevent DNA degradation.
Module 4: eDNA Extraction, Amplification, and Sequencing will focus on the methods used to process eDNA samples in the lab. It details the procedures for extracting DNA from environmental samples, ensuring the efficient recovery of genetic material. The module covers techniques for amplifying target DNA sequences, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing technologies.
Module 5: eDNA Data Processing will address the steps involved in managing and analyzing raw eDNA sequence data. It covers initial quality control measures to filter out low-quality sequences and contaminants. The module discusses the use of bioinformatics tools and software for data analysis, including taxonomic assignment to identify species present in the samples.
Module 6: eDNA Ecological Inference will delve into the interpretation of eDNA data to make ecological inferences about the sampled environment. It covers methods for estimating species presence, abundance, and diversity based on the detected eDNA sequences. The module discusses statistical approaches for analyzing eDNA data, including community ecology analyses.
Module 7: eDNA and End-Users (Policy-Makers, Stakeholders) will explore the practical applications of eDNA research for policymakers, stakeholders, and other end-users. It examines how eDNA findings can inform decision-making processes related to biodiversity conservation, environmental management, and policy development.
Module 8: eDNA Case Studies will present real-world examples and case studies that showcase the practical applications and outcomes of eDNA research across diverse environments and contexts. It examines specific projects where eDNA has been successfully employed to address various ecological and conservation challenges.
Post-training activities
Participants - eligibility
The course is open to all researchers, lecturers, and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, KNUST. However, given resource and time constraints, only 35 participants can be admitted for the meeting on 18th and 19th July 2024. Kindly indicate your interest in participating in the course to Ms. Abena Fosuaa Acheampong
Dr. Kingsly Chuo Beng holds a PhD degree in Ecology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS). His research focuses on the use of molecular genetic techniques (i.e., community and environmental DNA metabarcoding) to assess, monitor, and quantify patterns of biodiversity across both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Thunen Institute of Sea Fisheries working as part of the team on a multi-institutional project – CREATE (Concepts for Reducing the Effects of Anthropogenic preassures and uses on marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity) – funded by German Marine Research Alliance. Dr. Beng currently leads the work package on integration of non-invasive methods in routine monitoring of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). He has authored and co-authored over 13 peer reviewed papers in high impact scientific journals. You can find more information on Dr. Kinglsy Beng’s research here and here.