Ecosystem monitoring through eDNA analyses

Contact person: H?vard Kauserud
Keywords: Biodiversity loss, DNA metabarcoding and metagenomics, Biomonitoring, Environmental DNA
Research group: H?vard Kauserud (IBV), Inger Skrede (IBV), Torbj?rn Ergon (IBV), Anders Krabber?d (IBV), Torbj?rn Rognes (IFI) Rune Halvorsen (NHM), 
Department of Biosciences (IBV), Department of Informatics (IFI), Natural History Museum (NHM)

Ecosystems are impacted worldwide by global change processes such as global warming and habitat destruction, but many of the effects probably go unnoticed. High throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental DNA (eDNA) can be used in a cost-effective and non-destructive way to monitor and understand how ecosystems, and biodiversity therein, are affected. eDNA based biomonitoring will also unveil undescribed life-forms, and may be the only feasible way to start closing the knowledge gap on Earth’s biodiversity. Massive amounts of data for downstream computational analyses are generated by the HTS analyses. We welcome proposals from candidates with a strong background in bioinformatics, statistical modeling and data science in order to: (i) develop improved bioinformatics methods for analyses of eDNA sequence data, (ii) develop and streamline statistical models and computational methods for monitoring ecosystem change through eDNA, and (iii) apply relevant computational methods to address specific cases related to global change ecosystem effects.

Relevant topics from methodological research:

  • DNA metabarcoding and metagenomics
  • Bioinformatics processing of eDNA data, including long-read and shotgun sequences
  • Quantitative eDNA analyses
  • eDNA based measures of genetic diversity within species
  • Univariate and multivariate statistical methods to monitor ecosystem change
  • Hierarchical sampling designs and statistical modelling for biodiversity studies/monitoring by use of eDNA
  • Develop and implement machine learning and artificial intelligence for data analyses
  • Coupling of massive eDNA datasets
  • Upscaling of eDNA biomonitoring
  • Robust workflows for eDNA biomonitoring

Relevant topics from natural sciences or technology:

  • Modelling future biodiversity trends under global change 
  • Biodiversity and dark biodiversity
  • Conservation and ecology
  • Global change, including climate change effects

External partners:

  • Collaboration, mentoring and internship will be offered by relevant external partners for the specific projects.