March 13, 2025 – Oikon’s team of experts has recently published an important study in the esteemed journal Environmental DNA. Led by Dr. Jelena Mlinarec, head of Oikon’s Laboratory for Biodiversity and Population Genetics, the research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ida Svetličić, Matija Kresonja, Matea Rubinić, Tonko Megyery, Ivana Kaliger, and Dominik Mihaljević.
Their study, Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of the Lotic Fish Communities: A Comparison of Coffee Filter-Based Passive eDNA Collection Versus Active eDNA Filtering, explores innovative eDNA-based methods for monitoring fish populations, offering valuable insights into their temporal and spatial dynamics.
Monitoring fish populations is essential for understanding aquatic ecosystems, yet traditional methods like electrofishing can be invasive and time-consuming. This study, conducted in the river Sava (upstream and downstream of Zagreb) and the stream Okićnica, examined a non-invasive alternative using environmental DNA (eDNA). Researchers compared active filtration with a simpler, low-cost passive collection using coffee filters and found both approaches to be equally effective. Remarkably, eDNA detected more species than electrofishing, with variations observed between locations and seasons.
These findings reinforce eDNA metabarcoding as a reliable tool for biodiversity monitoring, offering a practical and non-invasive solution for conservation and environmental management. The study’s publication in Environmental DNA underscores Oikon’s commitment to advancing scientific research and sustainable environmental practices.
The research was conducted on our own initiative and was 100% self-financed.
Congratulations to Jelena and the rest of our team on this well-earned achievement!
Read the full article here: link
