Our work uses traces of DNA shed into the environment (eDNA, environmental DNA) to study the diversity and distribution of plant and lichen species.
We have a particular focus on developing and applying methods for biomonitoring and detection of species which are challenging to survey using field observations alone. Our work in this area includes:
Undertaking airborne eDNA surveys to track the presence and dispersal patterns of individual lichen species, providing evidence to guide strategies for the establishment of species-rich woodlands such as temperate rainforest.
Using airborne eDNA sampling to quantify lichen species diversity at the community level, to support the biomonitoring of species assemblages in response to environmental pressures such as climate change, air pollution or habitat fragmentation
Developing eDNA methods for species-level detection of aquatic plants to enable efficient high-resolution surveys of aquatic systems which can be time consuming and otherwise difficult to survey.