Strengthening global-change science by integrating aeDNA with paleoecoinformatics

Area of Science:

• Paleogenomics
• Paleoecology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) data holds potential for understanding past biodiversity dynamics.
• Current data complexity and heterogeneity, along with rapid methodological advancements, pose challenges to its full utilization.
• Bridging bioinformatics and paleoecoinformatics is essential for realizing the potential of aeDNA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical needs and provide recommendations for advancing the use of aeDNA data.
• To facilitate deeper insights into global biodiversity dynamics in response to environmental and anthropogenic changes.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of current challenges in aeDNA data analysis and integration.
• Formulation of recommendations for data standardization, resource linkage, and community governance.

Main Results:

• Key requirements include dynamic taxonomic and age inferences, and precise stratigraphic depth.
• Community governance and curation are vital for creating high-value aeDNA data resources.
• Harmonization of processing workflows and integration of metabarcoding data are recommended.

Conclusions:

• Implementing standardized workflows and robust data governance will enhance aeDNA data utility.
• These advancements will enable transformative insights into past global biodiversity dynamics.
• The integration of bioinformatics and paleoecoinformatics is key to future discoveries.