eDNA Survey Design

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys have changed the way we monitor wildlife and implement biodiversity assessments. They allow us to detect species from traces of DNA in water, soil, air or on surfaces without ever needing to see or capture the organism.

But to produce reliable, defensible results, eDNA survey design must be carefully tailored to your target species, habitat, and ecological goals. At The eDNA Consultancy, we combine our expertise in eDNA methods with your ecological context to design robust, scientifically sound surveys that deliver clear, meaningful data.

Whether you're looking for an eDNA baseline survey to quantify your success, or you're ready to re-survey with us, we're here to help.

A well-designed eDNA survey asks the right ecological questions and applies molecular techniques strategically. Poor survey design can lead to false negatives, wasted resources, or misleading conclusions. The key is understanding both how eDNA behaves in the environment and how the target species interacts with its habitat.

When designing your survey, our experts will consider the time of year, eDNA dilution, DNA shedding rates, species distribution and local abundance amongst other variables. We'll balance these factors with your budget to to develop custom eDNA survey that are biologically meaningful and methodologically rigorous.

By integrating our molecular ecology expertise with your on-the-ground ecological knowledge, we help ensure your eDNA survey is scientifically robust, defensible, and cost-effective.

Whether you’re looking for an eDNA baseline survey, to measure restoration success, or to find invasive or rare species, we can help you design and implement an eDNA survey that delivers results you can trust.