Location: Iberian Peninsula
Dates: 2023 – 2026
Area: Genetics and Environmental Laboratory Area
The invADN project aims to validate in a real environment the use of molecular techniques based on environmental DNA for the early detection of invasive alien species (IAS) in aquatic ecosystems. This initiative responds to the need for effective, specific and non-invasive tools to act before significant ecological or economic damage occurs.
In collaboration with the University of Oviedo and with the support of the Sekuens Agency, TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE is working on the design of standardized protocols that facilitate the integration of these methodologies in conservation and environmental management strategies in the national territory.
What have been the main challenges of the project?
Invasive alien species are one of the main threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services on a global scale. In the case of aquatic ecosystems, traditional detection methods – based on visual surveys or macroinvertebrate sampling – have important limitations: they are costly, slow, not very sensitive in early stages of invasion and carry the risk of dispersal between areas.
The central challenge of the project is to bridge the current gap between the scientific development of genetic detection techniques and their practical application in the field. This implies not only advancing molecular precision, but also translating that knowledge into operational, adaptable and accessible tools for different sectors affected by IAS.
What did we do from TAXUS MEDIO AMBIENTE?
From the area of Genetics and Environmental Laboratory of TAXUS, primers and specific fluorescent probes were developed and validated for the detection of five invasive species in the Iberian Peninsula by means of environmental DNA analysis (eDNA). The target species were:
- Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussel)
- Corbicula fluminea (Asian clam)
- Didymosphenia geminata (rock snot)
- Azolla spp. (floating fern)
- Mytilopsis leucophaeta (false mussel)
The work included both design and optimization phases of genetic markers and their validation under real conditions. In addition, progress was made in the development of standardized protocols that will allow their future application in sampling campaigns for the preventive detection of IAS.
What have been the key results?
The progress made under the invDNA project has demonstrated the efficacy and applicability of environmental DNA-based detection techniques, with solid results at both the technical and operational levels.
- Development of a specific and sensitive molecular detection system based on eDNA for five invasive species of interest in the Iberian Peninsula.
- Validation of its applicability in real environments, guaranteeing the reliability of the method under different environmental conditions.
- Generation of a methodological framework adaptable to other invasive species on demand, allowing the configuration of “ad hoc” protocols for new clients or diverse territorial contexts.
Present and future impacts
The transfer of this technology to the field represents a significant advance in the early detection and management of IAS. By
- Public administrations with competencies in environmental conservation.
- Water infrastructure management companies (hydroelectric power plants, wastewater treatment plants, industries that use water in open circuit).
- Agricultural sector, fish farms and nurseries.
- Port areas and maritime transport, as the main vectors of entry of invasive species.
The project, therefore, not only provides scientific innovation, but also strengthens the capacity for action in a key area for the health of aquatic ecosystems.