Traditional analyzes of monitoring data using a light microscope require long experience and good species identification skills. It can be difficult or even impossible to identify species with few distinguishing morphological charactgeristics or very small species even with a microscope. Different techniques and differences in determination accuracy often hinder the comparability of results. In addition, analyzing samples takes a lot of work time and can be expensive. New methods are needed to support traditional methods.
DNA- and RNA-based molecular methods have the potential to complement, renew and enhance monitoring and improve the comparability of samples in a cost-effective manner. In the methods, the DNA of certain gene sequences of the inheritance of the organisms is isolated, amplified, and the obtained sequencing results are compared to reference sequences stored in databases.
The project utilizes information stored in SYKE's open access Hertta database, produced with traditional methods. The DNA analyzes are performed on the same samples, which enables comparison between the methods.
Objectives of the eDNA-monitor project
- The main goal is to test, develop and validate the suitability of DNA methods for the assessment of both the ecological status of water bodies and species diversity.
- Develop guidelines for DNA-based monitoring of various biological quality elements (phytoplankton, diatoms, benthic invertebrates, and zooplankton) in lakes, river waters, coastal areas of the Baltic Sea and upland.
- Investigate whether the analyzes produced by traditional methods, which are limited in their determination accuracy and require a lot of work time, can be supplemented and eventually even replaced by automated, standardized and precise numerical DNA methods.
- Examine alternative ways of utilizing the results of DNA methods (Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU), Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV))
- Complement reference sequence databases
- Pilot the use of the DNA method in the study of zooplankton in inland waters
More information
- Senior research scientist Kristiina Vuorio, firstname.surname@syke.fi (lake phytoplankton, project coordination)
- Senior research scientist Satu Maaria Karjalainen, firstname.secondname.surname@syke.fi (benthic diatoms in rivers and lakes)
- Senior research scientist Laura Härkönen, firstname.surname@syke.fi (lake zooplankton)
- Researcher Kimmo Tolonen, firstname.surname@syke.fi (benthic invertebrates of rivers and lakes)
- Researcher Tiina Laamanen, firstname.surname@syke.fi (development of molecular methods for monitoring and ecological status assessment of water bodies)
- Senior research scientist Sirpa Lehtinen, firstname.surname@syke.fi (Baltic Sea phytoplankton)
- Sea analyst Siru Tasala, firstname.surename@syke.fi (Baltic Sea zooplankton).
- Senior research scientist Henrik Nygård, firstname.surname@syke.fi (Baltic Sea benthic invertebrates)
- Senior research scientist Anna Reunamo, firstname.surname@syke.fi (bacterioplankton, bioinformatics)
- Senior research scientist Veera Norros, firstname.surname@syke.fi (statistical analyses)
- Senior research scientist Jukka Aroviita, firstname.surname@syke.fi (coordination of biological materials from the MaaMet project)