Biomonitoring News and Research

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There has been a surge in the presence of pollutants and contaminants in the environment. Thus, efforts are being made to develop techniques that can measure the presence of these molecules within the environment and the human body.

Insights From the Ogasawara Islands Biodiversity Study

The Ogasawara Islands are a chain of tiny volcanic islands located thousands of km South of Tokyo, deep within the world's largest ocean.

21 Feb 2024

Novel genetics tool for mining impact assessment and biomonitoring of endangered chimpanzees

The western chimpanzees of Guinea are threatened by mining activities. Using a novel genetic approach, UZH researchers and an international team have collected information on population size and community structure of the endangered species.

17 Mar 2023

Research may help to predict honeybee adaptation to environmental factors

Researchers at Greece’s B.S.R.C. “Alexander Fleming” has perfected a method for identifying DNA traces in honey, indicating the species with which honeybees interact.

27 May 2022

Could DNA from Air Help us to Measure Animal Biodiversity?

In this interview, we speak to Professor Elizabeth Clare about her latest research into environmental DNA and how it can help to measure animal biodiversity.

From York University 15 Feb 2022

New guidance document for DNA-based biodiversity assessment methods

Between 2016 and 2021, over 500 researchers collaborated within the DNAqua-Net international network, funded by the European Union’s European Cooperation in Science and Technology program (COST), with the goal to develop and advance biodiversity assessment methods based on analysis of DNA obtained from the environment (e.g. river water) or from unsorted collections of organisms.

17 Jan 2022

Low dose of pollutants in food leads to high activation of antibodies that cause allergic response

Exposure to the heavy metal cadmium is known to irritate the stomach and lungs or cause kidney disease, but new research links another health issue to inadvertently ingesting low doses of the pollutant: high activation of the antibodies that cause an allergic response.

27 Oct 2021