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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

🧬Accommodation: Delegates are responsible for booking their own accommodation. There are lots of hotel options within reach by walking and public transport. 🧬See you there!

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

🧬We also have 20 places available for a pre-conference bioinformatics workshop on eDNA metabarcoding that will take place from 10am–1pm on Mon 13th. These are available for an additional fee on a first come, first served basis.

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

🧬 This year the UKDNA-WG conference will include a joint day with the British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Special Interest Group on the 15th April to explore the possibilities of how individual and population level information could be gathered from eDNA.

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

🧬Registration includes refreshments, lunch on 14th and 15th April and a conference dinner on the evening on 14th April. Standard registration is £95, and £65 for students.

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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

🧬Accommodation: Delegates are responsible for booking their own accommodation. There are lots of hotel options within reach by walking and public transport.

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

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

🧬The number of places is limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment. Registration includes refreshments, lunch on 14th and 15th April and a conference dinner on the evening on 14th April. Standard registration is £95, and £65 for students.

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

🧬This year the UKDNA-WG conference will include a joint day with the British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Special Interest Group on the 15th April to explore the possibilities of how individual and population level information could be gathered from eDNA.

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

🧬The conference will be held at The University of Sheffield on 13–15th April 2026. Location: The Diamond Building, 32 Leavygreave Rd, Sheffield S3 7RD; lnkd.in/eW7WTHid 🧬Start: 13th April 2026, 13:30 - End: 15th April 2026, 17:00

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 · 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 · 09/02/2026

🧬 For more information about who we are, what we do and past conferences, see lnkd.in/eqTmSyi7

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

🧬 Important Dates 19 February 2026: Abstract submission deadline 27 February 2026: Notification of outcomes 20 March 2026: Registration deadline

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

🧬 The conference will be held on 13-15th April 2026 at the University of Sheffield, including a joint day with the British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Special Interest Group on the 15th to explore how individual and population level information could be gathered from eDNA.

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UKEOF UKDNA Working Group @ukdnawg.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

You did an amazing job Dina! Your study is a fantastic example of best practice in #FAIR #eDNA research which is so great to see! Keep up the good work! 👏👏👏

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

And to @lynseyrharper.bsky.social for enormous help with Bluesky posts! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

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

To our panelists for such thoughtful answers and suggestions for how we can do better

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

To our invited speakers including @leeselab.bsky.social Gideon Henderson, @jlittlefair.bsky.social @profsicreer.bsky.social Kate Wade Niamh Nic Daeid Davey Jones Bridget Emmett for super insights and inspiring us

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

Our academic panel had a tough job this year… so many excellent abstracts to sift through. Quality of the science across all presentations was outstanding!

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

Next off our #ukdnawg steering committee and organisers led by @andynisbet.bsky.social. An amazing team effort!

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

Firstly to the amazing team @royalsociety.org led by @SarahGiles. What a privilege and fantastic opportunity for our working group, and a great pleasure to work with you!

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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

Henrik Cornelisson van de Ven of TNO describes formation of Dutch #eDNA working group and creation of National #eDNA Framework for the Netherlands. Many more meeting and fundings needed but lots of motivation! #UKDNAWG25 4/4

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

Ben Price @nhm.org gives update on last 5 years of UK Barcode of Life. Many gaps filled but better gap analysis needed to identify and fill those remaining. Next step is developed curated databases for UK and Europe! #UKDNAWG25 3/4

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

Tristan Biggs of PML Applications reviews use of #eDNA #metabarcoding for inshore #fish. Some methodological commonalities emerging. Species detection generally greater with #eDNA. Primer comparison needed as well as roadmap review and development of minimum standards #UKDNAWG25 2/4

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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

Project, sample, amplification (single species), sequencing and ASV/OTU data required which enable confidence assessment of the data. Templates for upload to @nbntrust.bsky.social have been produced with tool for adapting to @gbif.org #UKDNAWG25

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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

FAIR #eDNA data and transparent workflows are essential. Harmonisation should come after standardisation. International collaboration and partnership will drive progress #UKDNAWG25

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

Different labs can produce vastly different results which leads to ‘eDNA doesn’t work’ - ring and proficiency testing is key. Establishing minimum standards (e.g. sequencing depth) and metadata reporting is crucial. Stringency of standards will vary by taxonomic group #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

Claire Carvell @ukceh.bsky.social presents results of DNA barcoding through @pomscheme.bsky.social using BIOSCAN pipeline. High quality sequences that could largely be identified to species level obtained. Seasonal patterns in community composition found #UKDNAWG25 6/6

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

Penelope Watt @sheffielduni.bsky.social compared #eDNA to hand sorting to assess impact of land management on #earthworm diversity. #eDNA detected same species as hand sorting. More species in leys than arable land #UKDNAWG25 5/6

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

Bryony Jones @ukceh.bsky.social leveraging public genomic data repositories for #microbial modelling and Soil Health Bioindication. Strong potential but also challenges with inconsistent metadata accompanying genomic data #UKDNAWG25 4/6

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

Tamara Schenekar used #eDNA from waterholes to assess #terrestrial vertebrates in Savannah ecosystems. Seasonal water + sediment sampling compared to camera traps. More species detected with #eDNA. Species identity, body length, time since visit + duration all influenced detection #UKDNAWG25 3/6

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

Anna Wood @bangoruniversity.bsky.social using #merabarcoding to assess forest restoration. Currently waiting for data so watch this space! #UKDNAWG25 2/6

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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

Similar functional traits across methods - ecological resilience or full range of traits not captured? #Ecoacoustics detects distinct traits compared to larger mammals with other methods. #Ecoacoustics and #eDNA needed for most comprehensive trophic network #UKDNAWG25

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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

Higher #bird and #mammal richness in streams leaving protected areas, with higher occupancy of wild species inside and domestic species outside. Fish don’t show same trend although more non-native species found outside. More statistics needed over bioinformatics #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

Composition, distribution + function being examined as well as links to other #biodiversity data. Soil monitoring approaches across UK need aligned but even basics are challenging. Urgent solutions needed as soils in trouble. What metrics + standards does this include? What legislation? #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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