OWF eDNAMonitorBiodiv: Marine microbial and invertebrate meiobenthic diversity in Offshore Wind Farms using environmental DNA

Status: Active

Start Date: October 2024

Lead Organisation: Cefas

Offshore wind energy development needs responsible monitoring of the marine environment. Environmental DNA (eDNA) provides a cost-effective and less invasive method for monitoring biodiversity in marine habitats, compared to traditional surveys. Seabed ecosystems play a significant role in maintaining the health of the environment and contain a large portion of the planet's biodiversity.

This pilot project aims to identify micro- and meiofauna invertebrate diversity in offshore wind farm marine sediment habitats using eDNA tools. Sediment samples already collected under the POSEIDON programme from various habitats across England and Wales will be used. The project will employ a multigene approach to capture biodiversity data and community indicators of ecosystem health, including keystone or indicator species responsible for capturing and mediating natural capital elements or ecosystem services, such as carbon storage by different taxa, habitat usage by micro-meiofauna, and impacts on the benthos and top-predators.