Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have found that the key to a quick and cost-effective mapping of biodiversity has been right in front of our eyes all along, but at the same time invisible, i.e. in the air that surrounds us.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have found that the key to a quick and cost-effective mapping of biodiversity has been right in front of our eyes all along, but at the same time invisible, i.e. in the air that surrounds us.
Only a fraction of nature’s diversity, or species richness, is still known, especially when it comes to insects and fungi, both of which have millions of species still unknown to science. At the same time, the loss of nature is progressing at an unprecedented rate, and researchers are racing against time to find out the unknown diversity while also coming up with ways to save it.
“Air is a real treasure trove for nature research,” says Academy Research Fellow Nerea Abrego from the University of Jyväskylä. “It is full of DNA from plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, mammals and other organisms.”
Read more at University of Jyväskylä
Image: Laboratory technicians at the Konnevesi Research Station of the University of Jyväskylä collect fungal spores from the air. (Credit: University of Jyväskylä)
