Using Environmental DNA to Study Fungal Communities in Forests – Revealing Hidden Biodiversity

Monitoring forest biodiversity has become an increasingly important part of nature conservation and sustainable forestry. Understanding nature’s diversity requires detailed information, but traditional observation methods are often labor-intensive and demand extensive expertise.

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, offers a new kind of solution to this challenge. The method is based on the fact that organisms leave traces of themselves in their surroundings — for example, in the form of cells, mycelia, or other biological residues. These traces can be collected from soil, water, or air and identified in the laboratory through DNA analysis. This enables comprehensive mapping of species without the need to identify each one separately in the field or under a microscope.

Example Case: Studying Fungal Mycelia in a Fire-cured Forest Area

Our environmental DNA research focuses on the fungal mycelia found in a forest area that has undergone a controlled burn.
Fungi form extensive underground networks that play a crucial role in supporting forest ecosystems influencing tree growth, soil nutrient cycles, and the overall vitality of the forest. Moreover, fungal mycelia serve as excellent indicators when assessing forest biodiversity.

In this study, we collected soil samples from several locations within the burned areas. DNA was extracted from these samples and analyzed in the laboratory. Based on the results, we can assess the biodiversity of the burned sites and the success of the controlled burn by identifying both rare species and fungi that thrive in post-burn environments.

Without environmental DNA, carrying out a large-scale, standardized biodiversity assessment like this would be extremely difficult.

Why eDNA Is the Future of Biodiversity Monitoring

Environmental DNA brings several advantages compared to traditional survey methods:

• Efficiency: Sampling is fast and can be conducted over large areas without heavy fieldwork.

• Sensitivity: The method can detect rare or low-abundance species that might otherwise go unnoticed.

• Repeatability: Standardized analyses allow for long-term monitoring and reliable comparison between sites and time periods.

Toward Smarter Biodiversity Management

The loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest environmental challenges we face. New technologies such as environmental DNA provide opportunities to understand the state of nature more accurately and to act more effectively to protect it.
Fungal mycelia, which have often been overlooked in ecological assessments, are now emerging as important indicators of forest ecosystem health.

Puro Analytics – Supporting Sustainable Forest Management

Puro Analytics offers eDNA analysws that makes forest biodiversity and soil health visible. We help map the species composition of soils and ecosystems with precision and cost efficiency.

Whether you need insights from a single study site or long-term monitoring across multiple locations, we provide clear reports and expert support to guide your decisions.