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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

We are go on our annual meeting!! Delighted that @bettinathal.bsky.social is hear to kick off the conference with a keynote!

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

🧬 Last call for registration for the hashtag#UKEOF hashtag#UKDNA Working Group Conference at the University of Sheffield on 13–15th April 2026. 🧬Registration is open until 20th March via this link: onlineshop.shef.ac.uk/conferences-...

onlineshop.shef.ac.uk

UK DNA Working Group annual meeting (UKDNA-WG) 13-15 April 2026 | University of Sheffield

The next UKEOF UKDNA-WG conference will be held on 13-15th April 2026 at the University of Sheffield. This year the UKDNA-WG conference will include a join

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

🧬 Registration is now open for the 12th #UKEOF #UKDNAWG Conference 2026 until 20th March via this link: lnkd.in/ekTUn_eZ

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

🧬 #eDNA Fans!! 🧬One day left to submit your abstract to the #UKEOF #UKDNA Working Group Conference 13-15 April 2026! 🧬 Head to the Abstract Submission Form before 19th Feb! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Thank you so much to all the wonderful participants at #ukdnawg25! It’s been such an amazing couple of days! A few thank you so coming up…

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

And that’s a wrap! Thank you very much to @royalsociety.org, organising committee, session chairs, speakers, panellists and student helpers for a fantastic conference and we’ll see you next year! #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Speed talks! Caroline Howard @sangerinstitute.bsky.social gives update on Tree of Life project. Number of sequences are increasing every day, with slight bias towards Lepidoptera but also spanning all taxonomic groups. Fabulous genomic resource for the wider community to use #UKDNAWG25 1/4

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Now @nidunn.bsky.social on importance of metadata for publishing and mobilising #metabarcoding data. Metadata key to understanding how species records were generated and making confidence judgement. FAIR #eDNA project has established workflow which @naturalengland.bsky.social have adopted #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

@lyndallp.bsky.social gives insights and challenges from BIOSCAN. Scaling up, taxonomic bias + data quality have been big challenges. Sampling has ramped up over years. Most samples dominated by Diptera, but many taxa only seen once. Good coverage of UK habitats. Data platform now live #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Last session of #UKDNAWG25 is standards, best practice, current knowledge gaps and future opportunities. @leeselab.bsky.social discusses how we go from wild west of #eDNA to standards. Challenges are limited comparability of methods and unequal access to technical infrastructure and funding.

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Speed talks! First Nadia Barsoum @forestresearchuk.bsky.social talks about use of #eDNA for forest #mammals. Camera traps compared to aquatic, soil, airborne and surface #eDNA. More species detected with #eDNA, particularly surface #eDNA #UKDNAWG25 1/6

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

@clarecowgill.bsky.social compared #eDNA, #ecoacoustics + camera trapping for monitoring #terrestrial rewilding. Aquatic, soil + surface (tree rolling) #eDNA used. Most species with #ecoacoustics + tree rolling. More mammals + amphibians with #eDNA. More birds with #ecoacoustics #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Buffy Smith @theednaconsultancy.bsky.social compared #iDNA and airborne #eDNA for #biodiversity in fragmented forest landscape. #iDNA more spatially sensitive. More domestic species detected with #iDNA than #eDNA tended to capture larger native mammals - differential shedding rates? #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Doug Yu presents results of large-scale #eDNA survey across 30,000 km2 protected area complex in China. OccPlus model used which accounts for false positives and false negatives in the field and the lab using read frequency #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Our second last session is #eDNA for #terrestrial ecosystem monitoring, restoration and management. First, Bridget Emmett gives an overview of ecosystem monitoring by @ukceh.bsky.social and partners. Soils became focus in 1970s with #eDNA incorporated in recent years #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Only one speed talk in this session from Manisha Gupta of Fera Science! On-site diagnostics for food borne pathogens developed, including E. coli in irrigation water, and salmonella in high risk foods. Challenges included sensitivity and moving towards deployment #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

@susheelbusi.bsky.social using the Environment Agency’s River Surveillance Network for national-scale assessment of #antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is old and natural phenomenon, even present in ‘pristine’ systems. Prevalent in #river systems and influenced by catchment #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Davey Jones @bangoruniversity.bsky.social describes innovations in wastewater-based epidemiology. Everyone contributes a sample to sewerage system - unbiased monitoring. Can act as early warning system for public and environmental health. Key challenge is communicating insights #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Now for health and #forensic applications of #eDNA. Niamh Nic Daeid @dundee.ac.uk talks through whether we can and should use it in the criminal justice system. Many unknowns before it can be implemented in this space safely. Standardisation of methods, reporting, and data sharing needed #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Speed talks! @kirstenjharper.bsky.social uncovers #marine #biodiversity around Pitcairn Islands. Fish communities differ by site + depth. Species detections matched life histories + habitat preferences. More data for other taxa + comparisons with other methods still to come! #UKDNAWG25 1/4

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Dina-Leigh Simons @liverpooluni.bsky.social used #eDNA to survey rocky reef #biodiversity. Many spatial + environmental influences on intertidal #eDNA, but local abiotic stress gradients and known biogeographical patterns captured. Scale-appropriate sampling needed #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Karen Tait @plymouthmarine.bsky.social presents morphological and #molecular time-series to assess #zooplankton changes over last decade. #eDNA gives diff community insights. More info overall with both methods. Insights into meroplankton winners and losers as well as seasonal changes #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

#UKDNAWG25 Day 2 begins with #marine monitoring. Kate Wade @jncc.bsky.social explains how 🧬 uptake been slow - challenges combining with traditional methods, and lack of funding, knowledge and confidence. New UK Marine DNA Group aims to advance, collaborate + share learning, starting with workshop

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

@ukdnawg.bsky.social chair @andynisbet.bsky.social reflects on Day 1 of #UKDNAWG25. One of purposes of this group is join-up which today emphasised. Valuable sessions on airborne and aquatic #eDNA highlighted importance of microbial community insights. Heads are buzzing (in a good way)!

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Ending the day with panel discussion on opportunities for cross discipline and cross sector collaboration, with panellists representing government, academia and industry. If you’re not here this year, do comment with any questions you would like asked! #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Next speed talk session! Salla Vartia introduces PINK Track. Project aims to develop standardised #eDNA protocols for surveillance of pink salmon. 8 filter types compared across 6 countries - all performed reasonably well #UKDNAWG25 1/4

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Tom Wilding of SAMS giving overview of #eDNA based Infaunal Quality Index (IQI). Traditional IQI expensive, time-consuming, and incompatible with active management. #eDNA can give repeatable data and predict IQI if SOP followed. Ring testing also showed diff labs could achieve same result #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

#metabarcoding of archived samples has strong potential to help understand past ecological communities and changes over time. Future work will look at DNA-based metrics/indicators of #lake condition, and biobanked/archived samples #UKDNAWG25 @ukceh.bsky.social

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Joe Taylor @ukceh.bsky.social on integrating DNA into #lake monitoring. Decades of biological, chemical and physical data for Cumbrian lakes. #eDNA #metabarcoding introduced in 2021. Clear seasonal shifts in bacterial community composition and separation by trophic status #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Jono Warren of Environment Agency continues work on #river #biofilms, presenting results of #microbial #metabarcoding. Nitrate = problem for ecological health of rivers. Indicators needed for management. Sensitive and tolerant taxa identified. Placement of ‘good’ ecological threshold key #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

@amycthorpe.bsky.social giving insights to #river microbial diversity. Using Environment Agency’s River Surveillance Network, >1500 #biofilms collected, with #metagenomic sequencing for >400. Lots of novel taxa detected. Communities tend to be made up of high occupancy, abundant bacteria #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Lotic systems accumulate #eDNA from the wider catchment, including that of terrestrial species. Fish diversity increases downstream as #eDNA is transported, but strong spatial + seasonal turnover in #macroinvertebrates linked to env drivers. Also fast #eDNA break down to consider #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Where it all started… #eDNA monitoring in #aquatic ecosystems. First @profsicreer.bsky.social giving an overview of #freshwater lotic #eDNA, with investigations from mesocosm to ecosystem scale to understand fate, transport, spatiotemporal variation and environmental drivers #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Speed talks! Kate Denton @naturemetrics-edna.bsky.social used airborne #eDNA to look at crucial but overlooked #biodiversity on Somerset levels to infer ecosystem function. NatureAir project will expand this work #UKDNAWG25 1/3

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Connor Scott @forestresearchuk.bsky.social used airborne #eDNA of fungal spores to look at tree colonisation of former agricultural land. Higher success with airborne #eDNA + sporocarp #metabarcoding than visual survey, but species ID tricky. Many tools needed to profile fungal diversity #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Now to the darker side of #eDNA with Jamie Marsay from Kromek, detecting #biosecurity threats using in-field tech for accessibility and quick deployment/response. Samplers developed and combined with lab on chip or @oxfordnanopore.bsky.social MinION sequencing into sampling units #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Matthew Clark @nhm-london.bsky.social introducing AirSeq. Pilots showed seasonal trends in agricultural crop pathogen spores, and spraying sometimes occurring too late. Now expanding to animals and zoonoses with platform for real-time #metagenomics, and looking at changes in space/time #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Airborne #eDNA can be used for species at risk to large-scale ecology. Recurring problem of benchmarking #eDNA against existing monitoring while capilitising on the unique information it provides. Future work will look at transport, sampling, seasonality and much more #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

@jlittlefair.bsky.social kicks off session on novel and emerging methods for #terrestrial 🧬 monitoring with airborne #eDNA. Aquatic #eDNA development gave airborne #eDNA a running start. Proof-of-concepts in zoos provided evidence for also detecting UK species of importance #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

New #freshwater monitoring network set up for streams, rivers and lakes. DNA technologies helped address data gaps, harnessed power of citizen science, fostered collaboration between science and government, and provided bank of samples for future research #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Lesley Rippon and Katherine Burgess introduce Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. #eDNA being used in GenePools and England Ecosystem Survey @naturalengland.bsky.social More than 1300 species detected from urban #ponds by citizen scientists #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

DNA CoE has funded metric development, UK Barcode of Life, citizen science (GenePools project), and EMBRACE (open source, standardised bioinformatics platform for commonly used primers). Looking to hold workshops on #eDNA policy and readiness and translation, and pathogens and disease #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

David Bass @cefasgovuk.bsky.social, chair of Defra DNA Centre of Excellence (CoE), gives overview of its aims and function. Focus on data storage, sharing and harmonisation with future focus on state-of-the-art and metric development. Links to other consortia for cross-sector working #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Gideon Henderson, Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, speaking on how #eDNA can contribute to Defra properties. Legally binding #biodiversity targets domestically and internationally. We cannot manage what we don’t measure. Statutory monitoring inadequate + too costly to fully assess trends #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

How do we continue to promote join up between researchers and end users? How do we broaden scope of work? How do we work internationally? Share your thoughts before the end of the conference! #UKDNAWG25

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Reposted by UKEOF UKDNA Working Group

David Cooke @llewelyn68.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

10th meeting since 2014. Intro by Andy Nisbet @ukdna.bsky.social @ukdnawg.bsky.social summary of progress and goals of linking, engaging, supporting and translating eDNA applications to end users

Andy Nisbet on stage at Royal Society, London

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

How times have changed… @andynisbet.bsky.social reflects on #eDNA and @ukdnawg.bsky.social progress over the last decade. From newts to standards. Many valuable partnerships and collaborations created #UKDNAWG25

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

The new #eDNA explainer aims to raise awareness and highlight opportunities/challenges to policy makers 🧬 #UKDNAWG25 royalsociety.org/news-resourc...

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