Research Areas

eDNA dynamics and applications - Environmental DNA, in its simplest sense, is DNA extracted from any type of environmental sample (e.g. soil, water, air, etc.), without isolation of a particular organism. Combined with modern genetic tools, eDNA offers a non-invasive means to identify species or communities associated with the environment from which the DNA was extracted. Since its emergence as a reliable tool for conservation and invasion biology, eDNA has become a key research focus for many accademic researchers, private companies and government agencies. 

Despite the high intrest in eDNA research, there are still many gaps in our knowledge of how eDNA behaves and functions. Our lab focuses on understanding the ecological dynamies (e.g. state, fate and transport) of eDNA in aquatic and terrestircal enviroments within Hong and the surrounding area, which looks to assist collaborative efforts in establishing eDNA as an effective research and monitoring tool.  

Community and trophic dynamics - Communities include a wide range of mutualistic, antagonistic and predatory interactions, which are naturally impacted by climate change. Assessing the effects of biotic interactions is difficult to observe in nature due to the limited time species interact with each other compared to the time needed to observed each interaction. DNA based tools offer a way to identify trace remains of DNA fragments left behind that can provide insights into trophic and community interactions. Networks provide important information regarding the generality of the community dynamics and provide insights into large-scale patterns, but are traditionally limited to visually identified data. Combined with large scale forensic eDNA ecological data the eDNA and environmental ecology group looks address gaps in our understanding of trophic interactions and their subsequent link to environmental sustainability and human health.

Conservation and biodiversity assessment - A major challenge for the 21st century is ensuring natural resources are well managed for current and future generations.  Increased awareness of the negative impacts of human interactions, paired with continued technological development and budgetary constraints, calls for a practical reassessment of how we implement environmental regulation and the strengthening of links between assessment methods and underlying ecological principles. Traditional biomonitoring protocols rely heavily on identification of organisms by skilled analysts and can be time and resource intensive if a centralized identification database is not used to cross reference variants. Alternatively, utilizing a molecular based sampling and taxonomic assignment protocol that relies on a centralized taxon database and computer assignment may allow for a standardized biomonitoring protocol as well as furthering the scope and depth of the indicator groups used to associate pollution or environmental perturbation, thereby allowing finer scale assessment of any environmental changes that have occurred at target sites. Such an approach is particularly critical for assessing and managing Hong Kong biodiversity.

Ongoing and Completed Projects

Understanding dark diversity

2024 - present

URC seed funded; Coordinators - Mathew & Prof. Alice Hughes (external)

Provision of Services for Conducting Night Fisheries Resources Surveys

2024 - present

AFCD funded; Co-coordinators - Thomas & Baian

Establishing eDNA based methods for biological assessment monitoring in Hong Kong

2023 - present

Co-coordinators - Cheng Qian (PhD)

Environmental DNA assessment of Hong Kong freshwater biodiversity

2023 - present

RGC funded; Co-coordinators - Yan & PhD candidate starting 2024 

Collaborators: Lingnan University, South China Agricultural University 

Hong Kong Chironomidae biodiversity: an initial assessment of the largest freshwater insect group and their link with ecologically important stream conservation  

2023 - present

ECF funded; Co-coordinators - Han Wu & Elaine (Mphil)

Collaborators: Jinan University,  Shanghai Ocean University 

Diversity, Evolution, Biogeography and Conservation of Croaker and Drum  

2022 - present

Co-coordinators - Baian (PhD)

Qualifying Exam passed (2024)

Ecological and biodiversity assessments of ticks from wildlife seizures and urban environments   

2022 - present

Co-coordinators - Taneisha (PhD)

Qualifying Exam passed (2023)

Using eDNA for Hong Kong marine conservation efforts and biodiversity assessment 

2022 - present

MCEF funded; Coordinator - Mathew

The First International Workshop on Environmental DNA (eDNA)  

2023 (Finished) 

Croucher Foundation Limited  funded; Coordinator - Mathew

Collaborators - eDNA workshop committee and organizers. See associated publication for full committee list.

Outputs

Assessing temporal dynamics of community eDNA across an environmental gradient 

2023 - 2024 (Finished) 

URC Seed funded; Co-coordinator - Vivy

Collaborators - 2023 eDNA workshop participants/organizers, HKU Baker Lab