How eDNA Analysis Works: How Puro Analytics Uses Environmental DNA to Assess Biodiversity

Monitoring and reporting biodiversity has quickly become a central part of both regulatory requirements and companies' voluntary monitoring programs. Traditional methods are no longer sufficient on their own to meet the growing demand for data. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a technology that offers a solution by integrating molecular biological monitoring into environmental observation.

In this blog, we explain why eDNA is an excellent tool for modern ecological surveys and how we at Puro Analytics ensure that the available data is actionable, whether for voluntary corporate monitoring or regulatory mandated assessments.

How does eDNA complement traditional methods and what new capabilities does it offer?

Environmental DNA analytics is based on the fact that every organism sheds genetic material into its environment. When this material is collected and analyzed in a laboratory, we obtain a comprehensive overview of the species in the area without the need to visually sight or capture the organisms.

For organizations and companies, utilizing eDNA methods offers three concrete benefits that complement traditional survey methods and enable a new kind of biological monitoring:

• Cost-effectiveness and speed: Compared to traditional field studies, eDNA tests are faster and often more affordable to implement, saving resources and enabling more extensive surveys than before.

• Accuracy and sensitivity: The method reveals even rare, elusive, and hard-to-identify species that might otherwise go unnoticed or unidentified.

• Objectivity and reproducibility: eDNA methods offer an objective and reproducible way to collect data from nature, opening possibilities for systematic biodiversity monitoring and reporting, even over long monitoring periods.

Applications: From EIA procedures to water body monitoring and restoration project tracking

eDNA methods have advanced tremendously over the last few decades. Environmental DNA is no longer just a tool for the research community; it is utilized in various applications ranging from broad biodiversity monitoring to specific species surveys. The solutions developed by Puro Analytics are particularly suited to the following critical needs:

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): EIA processes often require comprehensive nature surveys. With environmental DNA, we can answer many process requirements (e.g., mapping directive species), producing the necessary data quickly, cost-effectively, reliably, and flexibly across different seasons.

• Classification and monitoring of the ecological status of water bodies: We model the state of water bodies using eDNA, for example, through benthic invertebrate analysis. eDNA allows for the calculation of indices and metrics comparable to traditional benthic surveys, and much more. A single sample can identify hundreds of species, and in addition to benthic invertebrates, fish stocks and diatoms can also be mapped.

• Nature conservation and biodiversity management: We help companies and organizations systematically map and monitor their own impacts on biodiversity. For this, Puro Analytics has developed its own reporting tools and a visual online dashboard, making the tracking and interpretation of results easy and intuitive. Impacts can be monitored and verified even in areas where positive environmental effects are expected, such as in connection with restoration projects.

Puro Analytics combines the latest academic findings, project planning, practical implementation, and reporting according to client requirements

Although eDNA technology is promising, its utilization requires deep expertise and practical experience to guarantee good results. Results can be distorted by, for example, sample contamination, a lack of understanding of the ecological context, or insufficient reference databases. Therefore, the choice of partner is critical.

Puro Analytics stands out in the market by always using the best possible analysis methods that tackle the industry's most common challenges. We execute projects quickly, cost-effectively, and always within agreed frameworks. Our process covers everything from sampling to the laboratory, and from bioinformatics to the final report and interpretation of results:

• High-precision laboratory analysis: We isolate DNA fragments and sequence them using the latest methods and equipment. Our protocol always includes the necessary positive and negative controls (including in the field) as well as other requisite quality assurance steps.

• Reliable identification: We compare results against extensive genetic databases to ensure species identification is as accurate as possible. Furthermore, our biologists manually curate the data, ensuring quality even in cases where reference libraries have gaps or incorrect annotations.

• Clear and visual reporting: We do not deliver just raw data, but refined information that supports sustainable decision-making. We offer our customers both a written final report and access to the dashboard developed by Puro Analytics.

Future environmental work produces better data at lower costs

As bioinformatics and molecular biological methods develop, the accuracy of eDNA increases and its usability improves continuously. Puro Analytics is at the forefront of this development; we constantly improve our operations and routinely test new methodologies. Our goal is to make biodiversity monitoring easier, faster, and more reliable for authorities, landowners, and companies alike.

When you want to ensure that your environmental surveys are based on researched and modern science, Puro Analytics is the right partner.

Interested? Contact our team, and we will tell you how we can tailor eDNA monitoring specifically to your needs.