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DNA_DRV; the DNA biodiversity drive

PI and co-PIs: Richard O’Rorke (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Aimee van der Reis (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Jacqueline Beggs (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Greg Holwell (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Andrew Jeffs (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Gillian Dobbie (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Yun Sing Koh (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Daniel Wilson (University of Auckland, New Zealand); Holly Fleming (Terra Pura Consulting, New Zealand); Louise Weaver (The NZ Institute for Public Health & Forensics Science (PHF Science), New Zealand); Annette Bolton (The NZ Institute for Public Health & Forensics Science (PHF Science), New Zealand); Daniel Pritchard (Te Tiaki Mahinga Kai (TMK), New Zealand); Gretchen Brownstein (Bioeconomy Science Institute, New Zealand)

Funding amount: $149,989

Project overview: Insects underpin many ecosystem processes, from pollination to waste disposal, but are increasingly threatened by climate change altering their habitats and developmental cycles. However, there is patchy data on the distribution of insects – and for most species there is no data at all. To rapidly address these data gaps, this project will collect the traces of DNA that remain after insects have collided with vehicles by wiping insect remains from front license plates belonging to collaborating organizations and members of the public. The team will use DNA sequencing to identify which species of insects hit the vehicles’ plates, and then will feed species data and associated vehicle routes into machine learning models to infer species distribution maps. Sampling the insect “splatter” that occurs as folk go about their daily commutes can provide an insect diversity roadmap at a scale much greater than current insect trapping or catching methods could achieve within the same timeframe. Baseline datasets derived from DNA data from car routes will make it possible to identify habitats that buffer insect diversity against climate change as well as flagging species loss or harmful insect invasions.

Ecosystems & Biodiversity Societal Adaptation & Resilience Health