Description
The Early Detection of Introduced Arthropods (EDIAs) project is a joint effort to determine the most effective methods for detecting introduced nuisance species in island ecosystems. Conducted by the EvoLab at the University of California, Berkeley’s Rausser College of Natural Resources with collaborators on the islands of Hawaii, Guam, and Okinawa, our team works hard to understand introduced species on a wide range of vulnerable island ecosystems. Our project is comprised of a passionate team interested in identifying and monitoring introduced arthropod species in the Pacific. We strive to use molecular methods and data science for biodiversity conservation!
Background
The major pathways for the spread of introduced terrestrial species that cause environmental and economic damage are the shipment of goods and movement of people. There is currently NO system available to rapidly identify and monitor introduced arthropod species. Traditional arthropod monitoring is extremely time-consuming because of the challenges of sorting and identification.
Objective
We propose to develop a biosecurity monitoring system that uses field sampling and next generation sequencing (NGS) technology to speed the identification and tracking of introduced arthropod species in real-time. Our interdisciplinary approach, combining molecular biology, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing, will contribute to the advancement of biosecurity monitoring and the protection of the environment.
The outcomes of this project have the potential to transform the field of biosecurity monitoring, providing a more accurate, efficient, and scalable approach for detecting and monitoring introduced arthropod species. The developed methods will be useful not only for biosecurity applications, but also for the management and conservation of ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. Our ultimate goal is for this system to be adopted by other users to address this global challenge. Overall, the project will provide valuable outcomes for stakeholders involved in biosecurity, conservation, and management.
Field Sites
We conduct field studies on three different island chains in the Pacific that differ in habitat types and patterns of biodiversity:
- Hawaiian Islands
- Mariana Islands (Guam and Okinawa)
Methods
We propose to combine two emerging technologies:
- Next generation DNA metabarcoding (barcoding of bulk samples containing multiple specimens) and environmental DNA (eDNA)
- Data science approaches, to allow more efficient identification and classification of invasive species