About This Project

We aim to combine eDNA sampling and biologging to study predator-prey interactions in the deep sea in real time. This innovative approach will provide unprecedented insights into deep-sea ecology, advancing scientific understanding and conservation practices by informing ecosystem management in a severely data-deficient environment. This will be the first attempt to physically combine these technologies, setting a precedent for future studies with different animals and ecosystems.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

There are many mysteries yet to be solved that are of paramount importance for the protection of marine ecological systems. For example, sperm whales hunt deep-sea squids at depths to a km and deeper, but these interactions have never been observed. eDNA (a non-invasive molecular technique to characterise species presence) and biologging both provide critical insights, especially in areas inhospitable to humans, yet their integration remains underexplored.

The pioneering combining of eDNA & biologging revealed the prey community of whales foraging in the deep sea. Direct, on-animal combination however, required to observe the actual predatory interaction, has not been attempted and would have significant consequences for both separate fields, identifying integration challenges and possibilities. Novel techniques in eDNA sampling have seen shifts (link & link) that offer an opportunity to physically link eDNA and biologging systems.

What is the significance of this project?

The deep-sea holds 95% of our ocean’s water, and the world’s largest biodiversity and biomass reservoirs, heavily exploited by top predators, including sharks and whales. This environmental functionality is understudied as it can't be directly observed – we therefore require advanced, and tailored technology.

Combining innovative tech is a logical progression in pursuing high-value data on ecosystems and species, as an XPRIZE competition for ecosystem monitoring demonstrated. Concurrent observation of predator and prey in this dark, cold, remote and highly pressurised environment requires combining advanced remote tech such as biologging and eDNA. Precise data on predator-prey interactions would create more statistically significant datasets to focus conservation efforts and policy in a data-deficient ecosystem. This project can shed light on this elusive datastream for researchers and conservationists.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goal is to develop the first integration of marine biologging and eDNA. Our key principles: high-quality data collection, precise spatio-temporal correlation, operational efficiency, and tag integration. Objectives:

1) Design e-DNA-biologger for whale-prey systems

Building off prior developments to develop prototypes that will merge two siloed technologies and be tested against previous contributor works and methods.

2) Compare eDNA recovery from biologger to alternate methods

Lab testing under conditions that mimic varying DNA concentrations, rapid movements, and short collection times.

3) Field testing

Pilot field data recording using developed system in existing field site (Azores).

This approach will develop a feasibility tested system whilst advancing biologging & eDNA methodologies, scoping potential further research, and providing a framework for combined data acquisition and addressing integration challenges.