Our research

We are currently rebuilding this page. If you would like to get any information about past and current research projects in SEPA, or opportunities for collaboration, please contact us on research@sepa.org.uk.

Most recent research project

Developing habitat scale DNA monitoring in support of post 2020 biodiversity reporting requirements

The overall project aim was to investigate and test the applicability of environmental DNA (eDNA)-based monitoring approaches for biodiversity assessment and reporting purposes across a broad range of habitat types in Scotland. It provided the following deliverable outputs:

Phase 1 Main Report (Dec 2022)
Phase 1 Pilot Study Findings & Phase 2 Sampling Plan (Jan 2023)
Phase 2 Main Report (June 2023)
Phase 2 Summary Brief (June 2023)
Phase 2 Technical Appendices (June 2023)

The data provided from both phase 1 (pilot study) and phase 2 (main survey) delivery of the eDNA research project, funded by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) division and supported by many key partner organisations, are crown copyright material which are being shared under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL) terms and conditions. Crown copyright must be acknowledged in its subsequent use or re-use and publication; provided that OGL terms and conditions are applied, and the source of the information be attributed to the (Developing habitat scale DNA monitoring in support of post 2020 biodiversity reporting requirements) project.

Phase 1 & Phase 2 Raw DNA Sequencing Files

The following data is available upon request by emailing research@sepa.org.uk:

Phase 1 Freshwater OTU Tables*
Phase 1 Marine OTU Tables
Phase 1 Woodland OTU Tables
Phase 1 Peatland OTU Tables
Phase 2 Freshwater OTU Tables
Phase 2 Marine OTU Tables
Phase 2 Woodland OTU Tables
Phase 2 Peatland OTU Tables
Phase 2 GapFinder Appendix
Phase 1 & Phase 2 Sample Metadata

*OTU Tables: The data contain Operational Taxonomic Units or OTUs which are DNA sequences found in a sample that, in most cases, are equivalent to species; however, not all OTUs can be named to species level.