UKEOF UKDNA Working Group

🧬Accommodation: Delegates are responsible for booking their own accommodation. There are lots of hotel options within reach by walking and public transport.

🧬We also have 20 places available for a pre-conference bioinformatics workshop on eDNA metabarcoding that will take place from 10am–1pm on Mon 13th. These are available for an additional fee on a first come, first served basis.

🧬The number of places is limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment. Registration includes refreshments, lunch on 14th and 15th April and a conference dinner on the evening on 14th April. Standard registration is £95, and £65 for students.

🧬This year the UKDNA-WG conference will include a joint day with the British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Special Interest Group on the 15th April to explore the possibilities of how individual and population level information could be gathered from eDNA.

🧬The conference will be held at The University of Sheffield on 13–15th April 2026. Location: The Diamond Building, 32 Leavygreave Rd, Sheffield S3 7RD; lnkd.in/eW7WTHid

🧬Start: 13th April 2026, 13:30 - End: 15th April 2026, 17:00

🧬 Registration is now open for the 12th #UKEOF #UKDNAWG Conference 2026 until 20th March via this link: lnkd.in/ekTUn_eZ

🧬 #eDNA Fans!!

🧬One day left to submit your abstract to the #UKEOF #UKDNA Working Group Conference 13-15 April 2026!

🧬 Head to the Abstract Submission Form before 19th Feb! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

🧬 For more information about who we are, what we do and past conferences, see lnkd.in/eqTmSyi7

🧬 Important Dates
19 February 2026: Abstract submission deadline
27 February 2026: Notification of outcomes
20 March 2026: Registration deadline

🧬 The conference will be held on 13-15th April 2026 at the University of Sheffield, including a joint day with the British Ecological Society Ecological Genetics Special Interest Group on the 15th to explore how individual and population level information could be gathered from eDNA.

UKDNA-WG 2026 - Abstract submission form The 2026 UKDNA-WG conference will be held on 13-15th April 2026 at the University of Sheffield, including a joint day with the Ecological Genetics Group on the 15th to explore the possibilities of how...

📢 Calling all #eDNA folks!!

🧬 Abstract submission is open for the #UKEOF UKDNA Working Group Conference 2026 #UKDNAWG26!

🧬 Submit your Abstract via this link! forms.gle/epwnz5PFdrrt...

Do freshwater insect assemblages in exotic plantations resemble those from native forest? Evidence from environmental DNA Widespread deforestation has impacted biodiversity patterns globally, but the potential for forest plantations to restore biodiversity remains unclear. Here we used environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis ...

Do freshwater insect assemblages in exotic plantations resemble those from native forest? Evidence from environmental DNA

#eDNA #environmenalDNA

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

You did an amazing job Dina! Your study is a fantastic example of best practice in #FAIR #eDNA research which is so great to see! Keep up the good work! 👏👏👏

And to @lynseyrharper.bsky.social for enormous help with Bluesky posts!

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

To our panelists for such thoughtful answers and suggestions for how we can do better

To our invited speakers including @leeselab.bsky.social Gideon Henderson, @jlittlefair.bsky.social @profsicreer.bsky.social Kate Wade Niamh Nic Daeid Davey Jones Bridget Emmett for super insights and inspiring us

Our academic panel had a tough job this year… so many excellent abstracts to sift through. Quality of the science across all presentations was outstanding!

Next off our #ukdnawg steering committee and organisers led by @andynisbet.bsky.social. An amazing team effort!

Firstly to the amazing team @royalsociety.org led by @SarahGiles. What a privilege and fantastic opportunity for our working group, and a great pleasure to work with you!

Thank you so much to all the wonderful participants at #ukdnawg25! It’s been such an amazing couple of days! A few thank you so coming up…

And that’s a wrap! Thank you very much to @royalsociety.org, organising committee, session chairs, speakers, panellists and student helpers for a fantastic conference and we’ll see you next year! #UKDNAWG25

Henrik Cornelisson van de Ven of TNO describes formation of Dutch #eDNA working group and creation of National #eDNA Framework for the Netherlands. Many more meeting and fundings needed but lots of motivation! #UKDNAWG25

4/4

Ben Price @nhm.org gives update on last 5 years of UK Barcode of Life. Many gaps filled but better gap analysis needed to identify and fill those remaining. Next step is developed curated databases for UK and Europe! #UKDNAWG25

3/4

Tristan Biggs of PML Applications reviews use of #eDNA #metabarcoding for inshore #fish. Some methodological commonalities emerging. Species detection generally greater with #eDNA. Primer comparison needed as well as roadmap review and development of minimum standards #UKDNAWG25

2/4

Speed talks!

Caroline Howard @sangerinstitute.bsky.social gives update on Tree of Life project. Number of sequences are increasing every day, with slight bias towards Lepidoptera but also spanning all taxonomic groups. Fabulous genomic resource for the wider community to use #UKDNAWG25

1/4

Project, sample, amplification (single species), sequencing and ASV/OTU data required which enable confidence assessment of the data. Templates for upload to @nbntrust.bsky.social have been produced with tool for adapting to @gbif.org #UKDNAWG25

Now @nidunn.bsky.social on importance of metadata for publishing and mobilising #metabarcoding data. Metadata key to understanding how species records were generated and making confidence judgement. FAIR #eDNA project has established workflow which @naturalengland.bsky.social have adopted #UKDNAWG25

@lyndallp.bsky.social gives insights and challenges from BIOSCAN. Scaling up, taxonomic bias + data quality have been big challenges. Sampling has ramped up over years. Most samples dominated by Diptera, but many taxa only seen once. Good coverage of UK habitats. Data platform now live #UKDNAWG25

FAIR #eDNA data and transparent workflows are essential. Harmonisation should come after standardisation. International collaboration and partnership will drive progress #UKDNAWG25

Different labs can produce vastly different results which leads to ‘eDNA doesn’t work’ - ring and proficiency testing is key. Establishing minimum standards (e.g. sequencing depth) and metadata reporting is crucial. Stringency of standards will vary by taxonomic group #UKDNAWG25