Environmental DNA analysis shows promise for studying rare and elusive marine species By their very nature, rare marine species are challenging to study. They often elude detection by established research methods because of their scarcity and patchy distribution. Their small populations demand the use of sampling techniques that minimize the risks of injury or death and that conserve the habitats and ecological communities that support them. At the same time, ever more once-common marine species are becoming rare as threats such as overfishing, invasive species, and environmental destruction reduce their abundance (1). Analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) shows promise as a rapid, safe, sensitive, and cost-effective means for detecting and studying rare marine species.

中文翻译：

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寻找稀有海洋物种的工具

环境 DNA 分析显示出研究稀有和难以捉摸的海洋物种的前景 就其本质而言，稀有海洋物种的研究具有挑战性。由于它们的稀缺性和分布不均，它们经常通过既定的研究方法来逃避检测。他们的小种群需要使用取样技术来最大限度地减少受伤或死亡的风险，并保护支持他们的栖息地和生态群落。与此同时，由于过度捕捞、入侵物种和环境破坏等威胁减少了它们的丰度，曾经常见的海洋物种变得越来越稀有 (1)。环境 DNA (eDNA) 分析显示出作为检测和研究稀有海洋物种的快速、安全、灵敏且具有成本效益的手段的前景。