Atmospheric Environmental DNA: Integrating Biodiversity Monitoring with Global Ecological Forecasting

Xiaoping Wang; Guanhua Wang; Zihao Sun

doi:10.53941/ges.2026.100015

Abstract

Airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is emerging as a transformative tool for planetary-scale biodiversity monitoring. This approach enables the capture of genetic material from entire biological communities, spanning viruses to vertebrates within a single air sample. While this technology offers unprecedented potential for conducting non-invasive biodiversity surveys, pathogen surveillance, and population genetic studies, the field remains dominated by descriptive observational studies. Furthermore, it faces significant hurdles, including a lack of mechanistic understanding, methodological biases, and unresolved ethical concerns related to human genetic bycatch. In this perspective, we present the current research landscape of airborne eDNA, highlighting key advancements and persistent limitations. We propose a roadmap for future development aimed at building a predictive framework for global ecological forecasting.

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