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Project Code [2023-NE-1203]
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Project title
Innovating transnational aquatic biodiversity monitoring using high-throughput DNA tools and automated image recognition
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS)
Lead Organisation
University College Dublin (UCD)
Lead Applicant
Mary Kelly-Quinn
Project Abstract
DNAquaIMG will explore the individual and combined potential of molecular and image-based approaches to advance biodiversity monitoring. A focus will be on European rivers under different stressor impacts (agricultural/urban land-use vs. natural land-cover) as well as restoration
afterstressor release (reservoir/dam removal). Three research questions will be addressed:
1. What changes in macroinvertebrate and diatom biodiversity, i.e. losses and gains other than the WFD indicator taxa, occur with change in WFD ecological status?
2. Do restorations that raise the WFD status class to good or high also represent an equivalent recovery of lost biodiversity?
3. Can molecular and image-based methods be used to support biodiversity monitoring and help identify novel biodiversity indicators?
Grant Approved
�149,966.73
Research Hub
Natural Environment
Initial Projected Completion Date
01/01/2027