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    Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates

    94188.pdf (3.101Mb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Newton, Joshua
    Nevill, Paul
    Bateman, Phillip
    Campbell, Mathew
    Allentoft, Morten
    Date
    2024
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Newton, J. and Nevill, P. and Bateman, P. and Campbell, M. and Allentoft, M. 2024. Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates. iScience. 27: 108904
    Source Title
    iScience
    ISSN
    2589-0042
    Faculty
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    School
    School of Molecular and Life Sciences (MLS)
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94404
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Environmental DNA holds significant promise as a non-invasive tool for tracking terrestrial biodiversity. However, in non-homogenous terrestrial environments, the continual exploration of new substrates is crucial. Here we test the hypothesis that spider webs can act as passive biofilters, capturing eDNA from vertebrates present in the local environment. Using a metabarcoding approach, we detected verte brate eDNA from all analyzed spider webs (N = 49). Spider webs obtained from an Australian woodland locality yielded vertebrate eDNA from 32 different species, including native mammals and birds. In contrast, webs from Perth Zoo, less than 50 km away, yielded eDNA from 61 different vertebrates and produced a highly distinct species composition, largely reflecting exotic species hosted in the zoo. We show that higher animal biomass and proximity to animal enclosures increased eDNA detection probabil ity in the zoo. Our results indicate a tremendous potential for using spider webs as a cost-effective means to monitor terrestrial vertebrates.

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