Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates
Environmental DNA holds significant promise as a non-invasive tool for tracking terrestrial biodiversity. However, in non-homogenous terrestrial environments, the continual exploration of new substrates is crucial. Here we test the hypothesis that spider webs can act as passive biofilters, capturi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Cell Press
2024
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94404 |
| _version_ | 1848765869545488384 |
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| author | Newton, Joshua Nevill, Paul Bateman, Phillip Campbell, Mathew Allentoft, Morten |
| author_facet | Newton, Joshua Nevill, Paul Bateman, Phillip Campbell, Mathew Allentoft, Morten |
| author_sort | Newton, Joshua |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Environmental DNA holds significant promise as a non-invasive tool for tracking terrestrial biodiversity.
However, in non-homogenous terrestrial environments, the continual exploration of new substrates is
crucial. Here we test the hypothesis that spider webs can act as passive biofilters, capturing eDNA
from vertebrates present in the local environment. Using a metabarcoding approach, we detected verte brate eDNA from all analyzed spider webs (N = 49). Spider webs obtained from an Australian woodland
locality yielded vertebrate eDNA from 32 different species, including native mammals and birds. In
contrast, webs from Perth Zoo, less than 50 km away, yielded eDNA from 61 different vertebrates and
produced a highly distinct species composition, largely reflecting exotic species hosted in the zoo. We
show that higher animal biomass and proximity to animal enclosures increased eDNA detection probabil ity in the zoo. Our results indicate a tremendous potential for using spider webs as a cost-effective means
to monitor terrestrial vertebrates. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:42:06Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-94404 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:42:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Cell Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-944042024-04-05T01:27:04Z Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates Newton, Joshua Nevill, Paul Bateman, Phillip Campbell, Mathew Allentoft, Morten Environmental DNA holds significant promise as a non-invasive tool for tracking terrestrial biodiversity. However, in non-homogenous terrestrial environments, the continual exploration of new substrates is crucial. Here we test the hypothesis that spider webs can act as passive biofilters, capturing eDNA from vertebrates present in the local environment. Using a metabarcoding approach, we detected verte brate eDNA from all analyzed spider webs (N = 49). Spider webs obtained from an Australian woodland locality yielded vertebrate eDNA from 32 different species, including native mammals and birds. In contrast, webs from Perth Zoo, less than 50 km away, yielded eDNA from 61 different vertebrates and produced a highly distinct species composition, largely reflecting exotic species hosted in the zoo. We show that higher animal biomass and proximity to animal enclosures increased eDNA detection probabil ity in the zoo. Our results indicate a tremendous potential for using spider webs as a cost-effective means to monitor terrestrial vertebrates. 2024 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94404 Cell Press fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Newton, Joshua Nevill, Paul Bateman, Phillip Campbell, Mathew Allentoft, Morten Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title | Spider webs capture environmental
DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title_full | Spider webs capture environmental
DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title_fullStr | Spider webs capture environmental
DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spider webs capture environmental
DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title_short | Spider webs capture environmental
DNA from terrestrial vertebrates |
| title_sort | spider webs capture environmental
dna from terrestrial vertebrates |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94404 |