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Marine mammals in the North Atlantic have experienced severe depletions due to overexploitation. While some species and populations have now recovered, there are numerous other anthropogenic activities impacting their North Atlantic ecosystem. Studying marine mammals is often associated with logistical challenges, and many species have an elusive nature, resulting in substantial knowledge gaps on the distribution, abundance and diversity of marine mammals in the North Atlantic. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool in biodiversity monitoring and has successfully been demonstrated to complement traditional monitoring methods for a wide range of marine taxonomic groups. The promising potential of seawater eDNA is owe to advances within an array of molecular methods used to extract, detect and/or sequence the genetic material of marine organisms from a single seawater sample. We present a literature review of eDNA studies of marine mammals and discuss the potential applications and practical challenges of eDNA in marine mammal research, management and conservation. Environmental DNA has already been introduced to a wide range of applications within marine mammal science, from detection of endangered species to population genetic assessments. Furthermore, eDNA has the power to capture other biologically important species in the marine ecosystem and food web, which could facilitate insight into the spatiotemporal variation of different marine communities in a changing environment. With methodological and technological standardization, eDNA based approaches have a promising potential to be integrated into regular monitoring practices and management strategies.
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This content will become publicly available on December 16, 2026
Trends in aquatic environmental DNA research in Alaska
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an emerging tool with significant potential to advance biomonitoring, particularly in remote and logistically challenging environments. To evaluate the state of eDNA research in Alaska, we conducted a literature review and a regional survey. The review identified 22 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025, while the survey of 54 individuals representing state, federal, academic, tribal, and nonprofit organizations (46 responses) captured information on ongoing and unpublished projects. Our literature review and survey results reveal that most published and ongoing studies in Alaska employ eDNA metabarcoding to assess community assemblages, species distributions, and biodiversity patterns. However, respondents reported several barriers to implementation, including limited funding, infrastructure, and assay availability, as well as uncertainty in laboratory selection, sampling protocols, and data analysis. Despite these challenges, cross-sector collaborations are developing. Within the growing effort to harness eDNA as a management tool, collaborations with subsistence harvesters are in the forefront of using eDNA for management purposes. This study provides the first comprehensive overview of eDNA research in Alaska, identifies key data gaps, and offers examples of co-production of knowledge currently underway in the state. Frameworks developed in Alaska may inform the advancement of remote biomonitoring programs globally.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2022190
- PAR ID:
- 10658290
- Publisher / Repository:
- SORTEE: the Society for Open, Reliable, and Transparent Ecology and Evolutionary biology
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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