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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

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

02/01/2024

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/01/2027