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Oral Presentation
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Student 10-Minute Presentation Competition

Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Student Competition

Student

Grad 10-min Competition: SysEB, Sampling and Models

Optimizing airborne environmental DNA storage for monitoring terrestrial insects

Monday, November 10, 2025
9:00 AM - 9:12 AM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, B115, OCC
Oral Presentation Student Competition
The collection of airborne environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect terrestrial organisms and classify them using metabarcoding has promise to revolutionize large-scale sample collection for the monitoring of biodiversity. While researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of airborne eDNA collection and subsequent metabarcoding, the limitations and potential biases of this method are not yet well-described. Specifically, there does not exist a standard, empirically backed protocol for the storage of eDNA samples from the air to maximize the quantity and quality of eDNA. Here, we investigate how certain foundational considerations for airborne eDNA sample storage will impact eDNA yield. We use custom-built, battery powered samplers to pull air through a glass fiber filter at 1.5 liters per minute. Resultant filter samples are subjected to different storage conditions based on light exposure, storage temperature, and time between sampling and laboratory DNA extraction. After extraction, we measure and report the effects of these storage factors on eDNA yield and receiver operating characteristics of species-specific PCR capability. These data will inform future airborne eDNA collection for terrestrial invertebrates by optimizing storage methods.