NatureMetrics Articles
We are committed to enhancing research through transparency and communication of our sciences. This is your chance to discover the advancements and innovations in DNA-based methods directly from the experts at NatureMetrics.
COP26 reflections: measuring biodiversity has never been so vital
Like so many others, I've been reflecting on what's happened over the last couple of weeks at COP26, and how it relates to the world I'm more usually embedded within. For those of us in the biodiversity and conservation world, there's a lot to get our heads around - and fast!
Exploring remote oceans using traces of DNA
This World Ocean’s Day, new DNA technologies have arrived on the remote islands of the Chagos Archipelago, and a team of researchers are collecting DNA samples to monitor the marine biodiversity of this diverse region.
Change is possible for the benefit of nature
FFI and NatureMetrics have signed an agreement that will see the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) technology for wildlife monitoring in Africa. The technology brings benefits both for nature and for the local communities empowered to conduct ongoing monitoring across multiple FFI Africa projects.
Let’s talk about ‘Net Zero for Nature’
The UK Govt has recently announced action to help stop the decline of biodiversity by 2030. NatureMetrics applauds this “Net Zero for Nature”. However, we are mindful that the effectiveness with which these reforms are implemented and monitored will determine the extent to which they produce real progress.
eDNA Highlighted in IUCN’s Corporate Biodiversity Guidelines
eDNA technology has been highlighted in the recent IUCN guidelines as a cost-effective way of gathering data while minimising the need for people on the ground. These guidelines were published to help companies evaluate their biodiversity performance and promote internal decision-making and external disclosure.
NatureMetrics relocates to Surrey Research Park after securing £6.5m investment to scale-up
NatureMetrics is delighted to announce a £6.5m investment and a relocation to Surrey Research Park to expand our growing business delivering biodiversity data to businesses, NGOs and governments using DNA. This growth will expand our product range, as we make use of the facilities in Surrey Research Park to refine and develop our technology.
How water can help fingerprint species at our mines–by Anglo American
We are working with Anglo American to bring innovative biodiversity solutions to the extractives sector. Anglo American have implemented DNA based monitoring at their mine sites and recently wrote about their experience working with this new technology for the first time.
Industry guidelines now available: Using eDNA to manage biodiversity risk
In this industry briefing note by NatureMetrics and The Biodiversity Consultancy, we see how eDNA technologies are valuable for understanding and mitigating biodiversity impacts at every stage of a project lifecycle.
The potential of eDNA in Biden’s plan for restoration of ‘orphaned’ mines
Biden's $16 billion proposal to plug old oil and gas wells and clean up abandoned mines would jump-start and significantly expand abandoned mine and well site rehabilitation efforts. eDNA is a powerful and innovative tool that can help inform the restoration process.
eDNA – a route to a safer biodiversity survey
When it comes to biodiversity surveys and routine Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) monitoring, mines often invest a significant amount of money in order to reduce risk. eDNA is a cutting-edge tool that can help mitigate risk during these critical biodiversity surveys, routine environmental monitoring and over asset life cycle from scoping to closure.
eDNA brings new solutions for age-old conservation challenges
eDNA is an innovative tool that can help combat the lack of time, resources and data that conservationists are challenged with.
Turning nature into data with NatureMetrics
Strengthening our understanding of UK biodiversity is a priority for effective management, yet we have an urgent need for better data. NatureMetrics scientists have developed scalable DNA based monitoring technologies that complement our existing biodiversity dataflows, giving rise to a new data layer for biodiversity generated using DNA species leave behind in their environment.
NatureMetrics: how we will make the next five years count for nature
Five years ago, NatureMetrics was a small team of people with a passion for DNA and its potential to change the way we manage biodiversity. We started off using eDNA to detect the protected Great Crested Newt for our clients. Today, we are over 40 people working with clients all over the world and have monitored tens of thousands of species across four continents.
Building back better: COVID, Nature and Sustainable Innovation
The year 2020 had been dubbed the super year for nature - critical global agreements on Sustainable Development Goals, biodiversity and the UN climate COP all hotly anticipated. But 2020 was instead famous only for COVID-19. From adversity, the green shoots of change are emerging in ways we could never have imagined at the turn of the decade.
New tools for monitoring biodiversity
The British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area is famous for its size, yet at this scale the monitoring responsibilities present major logistical and financial challenges. At NatureMetrics, we are helping CCT to establish new DNA-based biodiversity monitoring tools to increase the power of the data obtained and increase the pace at which it’s collected.
Simple metrics based on complex data sets
Our vision for post-2020 science-based targets for nature
How can environmental DNA methods be useful for understanding ‘who lives where, and when’?
There’s a whole world of biodiversity out there, and there are global efforts to measure species distributions so that we can make informed management decisions.
Developing DNA-based Techniques in Natural England for Surveying and Monitoring Biodiversity
Natural England is funding a number of projects examining different applications of DNA technology for the survey and monitoring of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity.
DNA Metabarcoding of Invertebrates to Evaluate Outcomes of Ecological Restoration
DNA metabarcoding enables the identification of invertebrate communities at unprecedented scales, effectively overcoming the bottleneck of morphological identification. This unlocks the data potential of highly diverse and responsive groups such as arthropods, which can act as super-indicators of ecological status, facilitating adaptive management during the course of habitat restoration activities in virtually any ecosystem.
eDNA Metabarcoding for Non-Invasive Fish Surveys
One of the best-developed applications of eDNA is surveying fish communities. Fish are particularly well suited to eDNA monitoring because they are fully aquatic and consistently release DNA into the water, making them detectable year-round.
