Volume: 5, 2026
5th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: OL001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.OL001
Published online: 22 April 2026
The use of non-invasive genetic sampling and eDNA for wildlife and biodiversity monitoring
Eduardo Ferreira
CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Corresponding author: elferreira@ua.pt
Wildlife monitoring and research are often constrained by the challenges of capturing and handling individuals, particularly in the case of elusive, rare, or protected species. These difficulties may arise from species ecology, behavior, or low population densities, but can also stem from legal and ethical restrictions associated with conservation status. In such contexts, non-invasive approaches—particularly non-invasive genetic sampling—offer powerful alternatives for studying wildlife. DNA obtained from environmental sources such as water, soil, or even air can be used to detect species presence, compile biodiversity inventories, and infer ecological interactions. More targeted sampling strategies can further enhance these approaches by focusing on species-specific traces in the environment. Tracks, scats, shed epithelial cells, hairs, feathers, and feeding remains represent widely available and information-rich sources of genetic material for many wildlife species.
In this talk, a series of case studies will be presented from our research group, primarily conducted on the Iberian Peninsula, illustrating the application of non-invasive genetic sampling to wildlife monitoring and research. Using materials such as hairs, scats, and feeding signs, we have investigated species and individual-level patterns in a range of mammal species, including the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus), the Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos), the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), and the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), among others. Through these examples, it will be highlighted how non-invasive genetic sampling can generate insights across multiple levels of biological organization—from individuals to populations, species, and even communities. The emerging applications of these methods will be also discussed in wildlife health surveillance and in the study of ecological interactions, particularly predator–prey dynamics.
Keywords: environmental DNA; fecal DNA; gNIS; hair sampling; wildlife tracking
How to cite
Ferreira E., 2026. The use of non-invasive genetic sampling and eDNA for wildlife and biodiversity monitoring. In: 5th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL5.OL001