What are Invasive Alien Species?
An invasive alien species (AIS) is an organism that can cause ecological or economic harm in a new environment where it is not native. In many cases, they are accidentally introduced in an area via human trade or travel, or deliberately released. In the new environment, the organisms may not have natural enemies or other environmental factors to control their population. They tend to spread quick, outcompete the endemic (local) species and can be disease carriers, thereby reducing biodiversity and causing serious impacts on natural ecosystems. Many invasive species also can pose significant harm to crops and may require extensive control measures or pesticide usage, which may in turn harm other species as well. Our Invasive Alien Species Monitoring Services use molecular techniques to capture, amplify and/or sequence E-DNA to identify species.
Why choose Invasive Alien Species Monitoring from SGS?
Benefit from out gkibak laboratory network, with offices in most large ports, offering field sampling in a wide range of locations
Deploy monitoring using various sample methods or reply on our advice on sampling strategies and methodologies
Enjoy a consistent service almost anywhere and the entire workflow - form sampling to analysis
Access various untargeted next-generation sequencing workflows to identify multiple invasive species form one sample
Use E-DNA for targeted detection of Invasive Alien Species through various molecular methods: PCR, RT-qPCR, ddPCR
Benefit from bespoke bioinformatics services and data platforms that identify and highlight almost any known invasive or non-indigenous species for which a molecular barcode is available
How can E-DNA be used to monitor invasive species?
E-DNA is the genetic material released by an organism into the environment. The sources are numerous and include shed skin and hair, body secretions, feces, seeds, pollen. By deploying molecular techniques, E-DNA can be captured, amplified and/or sequenced to identify species. The same technique can also be used to identify parts of, or whole, organisms.
Due to its sensitivity, E-DNA is a very useful tool for detecting and identifying the presence of rare and elusive species that often go undetected. Many of the most damaging and widespread IAS populations, originated from small individual numbers or have developed from just one single individual. E-DNA can be used as an early warning system to identify these small population pockets, allowing for effective control or eradication measures to be implemented and prevent the species establishment. Such early detection is vital for the eradication success and helps to save millions further down the line.
E-DNA techniques are most effective in water bodies, but we also have the capabilities to analyze E- DNA from soil, vegetation and air to detect a wide variety of invasive species. In some cases, rapid DNA detection methods can also be deployed, which allows for phytosanitary check on imported goods and containers to be implemented.
What Invasive Alien Species can potentially be detected via E-DNA
SGS has the possibility to genetically identify the following Invasive Alien Species. The detection potential in the specific environment, population or sample type may need to be evaluated on a case- by-case basis through pilot programs.