The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher

Mathew SEYMOUR; Isis GUIBERT; Gert‐Jan JEUNEN; Micaela HELLSTRÖM; Matthieu LERAY; Vasco ELBRECT; Anthony LAU; Maxine CUTRACCI; Chun Ming HOW; Jack Chi Ho IP; Zifang LIU; Jessica MOFFITT; Cheng QIAN; Xian QIN; Cham Man TSE; Yifu WANG; Zhi WANG; Xiaoyi ZENG; Meihong ZHAO

doi:10.1002/edn3.552

The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher

Mathew SEYMOUR^*, Isis GUIBERT, Gert‐Jan JEUNEN, Micaela HELLSTRÖM, Matthieu LERAY, Vasco ELBRECT, Anthony LAU, Maxine CUTRACCI, Chun Ming HOW, Jack Chi Ho IP, Zifang LIU, Jessica MOFFITT, Cheng QIAN, Xian QIN, Cham Man TSE, Yifu WANG, Zhi WANG, Xiaoyi ZENG, Meihong ZHAO

^*Corresponding author for this work

Lingnan University

Research output: Journal Publications › Comment / Debate › Research

Abstract

The field of environmental DNA (eDNA) has rapidly advanced in recent years, providing a non-invasive and time-saving method for assessing biodiversity. The First International Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop in Hong Kong was held from 16 to 27 October 2023 and provided early career professionals with hands-on training and collaboration opportunities in eDNA research. With support from The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong), the workshop covered all stages of an eDNA-based research project, including study design, field sampling, eDNA extraction, library preparation, bioinformatics, statistical data analysis, and ethics in scientific research. Participants gained insights into the principles and practical applications of eDNA technology, emphasizing the importance of careful experimental design and data interpretation. The workshop also highlighted the need for standardized protocols, comprehensive and local DNA reference databases, and careful selection of primer sets to overcome current issues and limitations. Workshop participants expressed enthusiasm for the potential of eDNA metabarcoding as a valuable tool for ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and conservation decision-making. The future of eDNA research looks promising overall, with continued advancements in technology, collaboration among researchers, and the integration of eDNA into large-scale ecological monitoring. Future iterations of the Hong Kong International eDNA workshop will continue to provide hands-on training and collaboration opportunities for early career professionals interested in eDNA research, focusing on addressing current limitations and challenges in the field.

Original language	English
Article number	e552
Journal	Environmental DNA
Volume	6
Issue number	3
Early online date	4 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.552
Publication status	Published - Jun 2024

Bibliographical note

We acknowledge The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong) for funding support via a Sponsorship of Conferences grant. Additional thanks to The eDNA Collaborative (Seattle, USA) for their input and discussions during the workshop. We also thank the members of the workshop committee, including David Baker, Shelby McIlroy, Kenneth Leung, Meng Yan, Jianwen Qiu, Jerome Hui, Jonathan Fong, Anthony Lau and Chi Chiu Cheang. We are also grateful to the eDNA and eEcology Lab members that helped with logistics including Kwan Yan Wong, Cheung Shuk Kwan, Ka Lam Karen Yeung John Ross Gabriel Sison Badajos, Si Zhewei, and Rachel Wong.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Environmental DNA published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

biodiversity assessment
bioinformatics
conservation
early career professionals
metabarcoding
study design

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/edn3.552

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SEYMOUR, M., GUIBERT, I., JEUNEN, GJ., HELLSTRÖM, M., LERAY, M., ELBRECT, V., LAU, A., CUTRACCI, M., HOW, C. M., IP, J. C. H., LIU, Z., MOFFITT, J., QIAN, C., QIN, X., TSE, C. M., WANG, Y., WANG, Z., ZENG, X., & ZHAO, M. (2024). The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher. Environmental DNA, 6(3), Article e552. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.552

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title = "The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher",

abstract = "The field of environmental DNA (eDNA) has rapidly advanced in recent years, providing a non-invasive and time-saving method for assessing biodiversity. The First International Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop in Hong Kong was held from 16 to 27 October 2023 and provided early career professionals with hands-on training and collaboration opportunities in eDNA research. With support from The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong), the workshop covered all stages of an eDNA-based research project, including study design, field sampling, eDNA extraction, library preparation, bioinformatics, statistical data analysis, and ethics in scientific research. Participants gained insights into the principles and practical applications of eDNA technology, emphasizing the importance of careful experimental design and data interpretation. The workshop also highlighted the need for standardized protocols, comprehensive and local DNA reference databases, and careful selection of primer sets to overcome current issues and limitations. Workshop participants expressed enthusiasm for the potential of eDNA metabarcoding as a valuable tool for ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and conservation decision-making. The future of eDNA research looks promising overall, with continued advancements in technology, collaboration among researchers, and the integration of eDNA into large-scale ecological monitoring. Future iterations of the Hong Kong International eDNA workshop will continue to provide hands-on training and collaboration opportunities for early career professionals interested in eDNA research, focusing on addressing current limitations and challenges in the field.",

keywords = "biodiversity assessment, bioinformatics, conservation, early career professionals, metabarcoding, study design",

author = "Mathew SEYMOUR and Isis GUIBERT and Gert‐Jan JEUNEN and Micaela HELLSTR{\"O}M and Matthieu LERAY and Vasco ELBRECT and Anthony LAU and Maxine CUTRACCI and HOW, {Chun Ming} and IP, {Jack Chi Ho} and Zifang LIU and Jessica MOFFITT and Cheng QIAN and Xian QIN and TSE, {Cham Man} and Yifu WANG and Zhi WANG and Xiaoyi ZENG and Meihong ZHAO",

note = "We acknowledge The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong) for funding support via a Sponsorship of Conferences grant. Additional thanks to The eDNA Collaborative (Seattle, USA) for their input and discussions during the workshop. We also thank the members of the workshop committee, including David Baker, Shelby McIlroy, Kenneth Leung, Meng Yan, Jianwen Qiu, Jerome Hui, Jonathan Fong, Anthony Lau and Chi Chiu Cheang. We are also grateful to the eDNA and eEcology Lab members that helped with logistics including Kwan Yan Wong, Cheung Shuk Kwan, Ka Lam Karen Yeung John Ross Gabriel Sison Badajos, Si Zhewei, and Rachel Wong. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Authors. Environmental DNA published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2024",

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SEYMOUR, M, GUIBERT, I, JEUNEN, GJ, HELLSTRÖM, M, LERAY, M, ELBRECT, V, LAU, A, CUTRACCI, M, HOW, CM, IP, JCH, LIU, Z, MOFFITT, J, QIAN, C, QIN, X, TSE, CM, WANG, Y, WANG, Z, ZENG, X & ZHAO, M 2024, 'The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher', Environmental DNA, vol. 6, no. 3, e552. https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.552

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AU - GUIBERT, Isis

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AU - HELLSTRÖM, Micaela

AU - LERAY, Matthieu

AU - ELBRECT, Vasco

AU - LAU, Anthony

AU - CUTRACCI, Maxine

AU - HOW, Chun Ming

AU - IP, Jack Chi Ho

AU - LIU, Zifang

AU - MOFFITT, Jessica

AU - QIAN, Cheng

AU - QIN, Xian

AU - TSE, Cham Man

AU - WANG, Yifu

AU - WANG, Zhi

AU - ZENG, Xiaoyi

AU - ZHAO, Meihong

N1 - We acknowledge The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong) for funding support via a Sponsorship of Conferences grant. Additional thanks to The eDNA Collaborative (Seattle, USA) for their input and discussions during the workshop. We also thank the members of the workshop committee, including David Baker, Shelby McIlroy, Kenneth Leung, Meng Yan, Jianwen Qiu, Jerome Hui, Jonathan Fong, Anthony Lau and Chi Chiu Cheang. We are also grateful to the eDNA and eEcology Lab members that helped with logistics including Kwan Yan Wong, Cheung Shuk Kwan, Ka Lam Karen Yeung John Ross Gabriel Sison Badajos, Si Zhewei, and Rachel Wong. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Environmental DNA published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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AB - The field of environmental DNA (eDNA) has rapidly advanced in recent years, providing a non-invasive and time-saving method for assessing biodiversity. The First International Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop in Hong Kong was held from 16 to 27 October 2023 and provided early career professionals with hands-on training and collaboration opportunities in eDNA research. With support from The Croucher Foundation Limited (Hong Kong), the workshop covered all stages of an eDNA-based research project, including study design, field sampling, eDNA extraction, library preparation, bioinformatics, statistical data analysis, and ethics in scientific research. Participants gained insights into the principles and practical applications of eDNA technology, emphasizing the importance of careful experimental design and data interpretation. The workshop also highlighted the need for standardized protocols, comprehensive and local DNA reference databases, and careful selection of primer sets to overcome current issues and limitations. Workshop participants expressed enthusiasm for the potential of eDNA metabarcoding as a valuable tool for ecological monitoring, biodiversity assessment, and conservation decision-making. The future of eDNA research looks promising overall, with continued advancements in technology, collaboration among researchers, and the integration of eDNA into large-scale ecological monitoring. Future iterations of the Hong Kong International eDNA workshop will continue to provide hands-on training and collaboration opportunities for early career professionals interested in eDNA research, focusing on addressing current limitations and challenges in the field.

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KW - conservation

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KW - metabarcoding

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DO - 10.1002/edn3.552

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JF - Environmental DNA

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The First International eDNA Workshop in Hong Kong : A beginner's guide for the next-generation eDNA researcher

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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