A new topical issue in the journal Metabarcoding and Metagenomics is looking for submissions of relevant research. The issue focusses on eDNA method standardisation and is looking for research on topics such as standardisation concepts, QA/QC, evidence where standards help or hinder biodiversity monitoring, etc.
The editors are interested in including work from AUS / NZ and a 15% discount applies to manuscript accepted for publication in the special issue.
Topic: Genetic tools are well-established for both targeted and taxonomically broad biodiversity
characterization; however, they are not yet widely applied beyond proof-of-concepts or pilot
studies. To support biodiversity monitoring from small to global scale in environmental
stewardship programs, especially as we face a climate emergency and biodiversity decline, we
need standardized and robust workflows from field sampling to detection/sequencing to metrics
to characterize biodiversity. Genetic methods including environmental DNA (eDNA)
metabarcoding and metagenomics have proven particularly powerful in this context. Following the
GEO BON 2023 Global Conference “Monitoring Biodiversity for Action”, this topical issue invites
contributions that focus on the establishment of standards and best practices enabling upscaling
of genetic methods to geographically extensive, long-term monitoring efforts. Submissions will be
considered that explore standards at any stage in the monitoring workflow, from sampling strategy
to bioinformatic analysis and interpretation/communication of genetic data. We particularly
welcome contributions that consider issues of accessibility and inclusivity and investigate
technology transfer to non-traditional end-users. Through a series of papers published, this topical
issue will demonstrate how molecular methods can be standardized, automated and upscaled to
be used for monitoring biodiversity in varied environmental settings.
Article types: https://mbmg.pensoft.net/about#Author-Guidelines
Submission: https://mbmg.pensoft.net
Deadline: 15.03.2024, articles appear online once accepted.
Special offer: 15% discount (https://mbmg.pensoft.net/about#ArticleProcessingCharges)
Coordinating MBMG editors: Mehrdad Hajibabaei (University of Guelph, Canada), Florian
Leese (University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany)
Southern environmental DNA society 
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