Animals and plants leave genetic traces in their habitats—known as eDNA. Researchers collect these traces from air, water and surfaces to determine which animals or plants they come from. This information allows researchers to assess the biodiversity of an ecosystem and derive appropriate conservation measures.
The international research team “ETH BiodivX” is now testing various technological solutions here in the Masoala Rainforest to collect and analyse eDNA.
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One way to collect eDNA is to use a drone. Another method involves using a probe attached to a winch. And a mobile “backpack lab” makes it possible to analyze the collected samples right on site. These innovations are designed to enable researchers to collect and analyze eDNA traces even in hard-to-reach ecosystems.
Video: Zurich Zoo, Sandro Schönbächler
The Masoala Rainforest, a mini-ecosystem on the Zürichberg, offers ideal conditions for the research team to test its technologies in a near-natural environment before deploying them in an international competition in the Singapore Rainforest in 2023.
