Conservation Methodologies Program

eDNA Project in Conservation

Hernán Povedano
© Hernán Povedano
Ulises Balza
© Ulises Balza

Context and objectives

Our objective is to conserve the environments and species of Patagonia through solid strategies, conceived in an integral way through the generation of knowledge. This allows us to work adaptively, continuously improving our actions. Currently, technological development allows us to work with techniques that until recently were very costly from a logistical and economic point of view. For this reason, our objective is to propose actions that allow us to collaborate with those groups that provide us with tools that will make our conservation programs increasingly efficient. Satellite image monitoring (using new analysis tools, such as AI), increasingly modern transmitters, and molecular techniques are, among others, the strategies we are addressing.

Scope of the project

Our actions

  • We work to generate local development of novel methodologies that allow us to generate information more efficiently and effectively. Within the lines of action are environmental DNA (eDNA) studies, the use of drones to obtain information of different types, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
© Tamara Zalewski

Protagonists

© Adobe Stock | Illustration: Pollo Pazo
©Adobe Stock
Southern River Otter
Lontra provocax
© Darío Podestá | Illustration: Pollo Pazo
©Darío Podestá
Torrent Duck
Merganetta armata armata
© Andrés de Miguel | Illustration: Pollo Pazo
©Andrés de Miguel
Austral Rail
Rallus antarcticus
© Pablo Carnevale
eDNA Project in Conservation

Lines of work

Monitoring endangered species in Patagonian freshwater systems using environmental DNA techniques

© Gonzalo Pardo