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Review
. 2023 Oct;38(10):946-960.
doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.04.016. Epub 2023 May 23.

Strengthening global-change science by integrating aeDNA with paleoecoinformatics

Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Strengthening global-change science by integrating aeDNA with paleoecoinformatics

John W Williams et al. Trends Ecol Evol. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) data are close to enabling insights into past global-scale biodiversity dynamics at unprecedented taxonomic extent and resolution. However, achieving this potential requires solutions that bridge bioinformatics and paleoecoinformatics. Essential needs include support for dynamic taxonomic inferences, dynamic age inferences, and precise stratigraphic depth. Moreover, aeDNA data are complex and heterogeneous, generated by dispersed researcher networks, with methods advancing rapidly. Hence, expert community governance and curation are essential to building high-value data resources. Immediate recommendations include uploading metabarcoding-based taxonomic inventories into paleoecoinformatic resources, building linkages among open bioinformatic and paleoecoinformatic data resources, harmonizing aeDNA processing workflows, and expanding community data governance. These advances will enable transformative insights into global-scale biodiversity dynamics during large environmental and anthropogenic changes.

Keywords: ancient environmental DNA; community-curated data resources; global change ecology; metabarcoding; paleoecoinformatics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests No interests are declared.

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