Environmental DNA: Ecosystem Health Assessment
Learn eDNA analysis for biodiversity monitoring and conservation in this comprehensive 7-week course.
Learn eDNA analysis for biodiversity monitoring and conservation in this comprehensive 7-week course.
Discover the power of environmental DNA (eDNA) in this groundbreaking course. Learn hands-on skills in sampling, lab methods, and data interpretation for biodiversity monitoring. Explore real-world case studies from tropical rainforests to coastal waters, and gain insights into species diversity and ecosystem health. Perfect for conservationists, ecologists, and nature enthusiasts seeking to address pressing ecological challenges using cutting-edge eDNA techniques.
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What you'll learn
Gain a theoretical and conceptual understanding of environmental DNA
Learn to design and implement eDNA sampling strategies in various environments
Understand laboratory procedures for eDNA analysis, focusing on metabarcoding
Develop skills in bioinformatics for analyzing eDNA data
Interpret eDNA signals to assess biodiversity and ecosystem health
Apply eDNA insights to real-life research case studies and environmental decision-making
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
Live video
Graded assignments, exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
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There are 7 modules in this course
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Participants will learn about the theoretical foundations of eDNA, its role in biodiversity research, and practical applications. The course covers the entire eDNA workflow, from designing sampling strategies to interpreting results for environmental decision-making. Students will explore real-world case studies from diverse ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, coastal waters, and forest reserves. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on skills in sampling techniques, laboratory methodologies, and data interpretation using bioinformatics tools. Participants will also learn how to apply eDNA insights to address ecological challenges and inform evidence-based environmental policies.
Introduction to eDNA
Module 1
Designing the eDNA Workflow
Module 2
Sampling eDNA in the Environment
Module 3
Laboratory Analysis
Module 4
Bioinformatics Analysis
Module 5
Ecological Interpretation
Module 6
Environmental Decision-Making
Module 7
Fee Structure
Instructors
2 Courses
Expert in Biodiversity Patterns and Environmental Data Science
Fabian Fopp is a Teaching Coordinator in the Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution research group at ETH Zurich. He specializes in investigating biodiversity patterns across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in Switzerland, employing range mapping and species distribution modeling to understand environmental factors that shape diversity patterns. As the teaching coordinator, he oversees several bachelor and master courses focused on environmental data science, eDNA for biodiversity monitoring, and spatial analysis in R. His work combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications in spatial modeling for environmental system sciences students. Fopp's research interests focus on understanding how environmental factors influence species distribution and diversity patterns in Swiss ecosystems. As a guest scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, he contributes to research on Swiss ecosystem diversity patterns and develops innovative approaches to biodiversity monitoring and assessment.
2 Courses
Pioneer in Ecosystem Science and Biodiversity Research
Loïc Pellissier is a Professor of Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) since 2015. Born in Martigny, Switzerland, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Lausanne in 2012, followed by postdoctoral research at the Arctic Research Center at Aarhus University in Denmark. His research integrates ecological and evolutionary mechanisms with paleo-environmental reconstructions to understand biodiversity patterns across different spatial and temporal scales. Pellissier develops innovative methods for modeling biodiversity across landscapes and tracking ecosystem changes using advanced monitoring technologies, having produced significant contributions including comprehensive species range maps for marine fishes globally. His work investigates how climate change affects both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, developing trait-based mechanistic models to quantify potential ecological responses. At ETH Zurich, he leads several courses including Landscape Ecology and Environmental DNA for Biodiversity Monitoring, while emphasizing the importance of understanding biodiversity decline and developing solutions, particularly noting that over a third of species and more than half of habitats in Switzerland are endangered. Through his research and teaching, Pellissier continues to advocate for evidence-based approaches to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management, integrating multiple disciplines to address complex environmental challenges.
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