The article discusses the potential of spiderwebs as a novel source of environmental DNA (eDNA) for biodiversity monitoring. Spiderwebs, due to their sticky nature, trap bio-detritus such as saliva, pollen, and other genetic material shed by living organisms, making them a rich substrate for eDNA collection. Joshua Newton, a molecular ecologist at Curtin University, found that spiderwebs outperformed other passive sampling methods, including vegetation swabs, water, soil, and air filters, in identifying vertebrate species near a zoo and wildlife sanctuary in Perth, Australia. However, the process of collecting eDNA from spiderwebs requires destroying the webs, raising ethical concerns.
To address the issue of web destruction, Angela McGaughran, a genomicist at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, experimented with synthetic spiderwebs purchased from a Halloween store. These artificial webs successfully captured eDNA from nearby animals and even detected fungal spores more effectively than real webs. McGaughran’s team is now conducting larger experiments to determine if artificial webs can provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative for eDNA collection, potentially enabling widespread deployment for biodiversity monitoring and other ecological surveillance applications. Source