Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41775849›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

Environmental DNA metabarcoding facilitates integrative conservation assessments and species rediscoveries in tropical biodiversity hotspots.

Amadeus Plewnia, Tobias Hildwein, Amanda B Quezada Riera, Andrea Terán-Valdez, Andrew J Crawford, Christopher Heine, Daniela Franco-Mena, Diana Székely, Diego Armijos-Ojeda, Fausto R Siavichay and 10 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Amadeus PlewniaDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany. amadeus.plewnia@t-online.de.
Tobias HildweinDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Amanda B Quezada RieraCentro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios, Fundación Jambatu, Quito, Ecuador.
Andrea Terán-ValdezCentro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios, Fundación Jambatu, Quito, Ecuador.
Andrew J CrawfordDepartment of Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
Christopher HeineDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Daniela Franco-MenaLaboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador.
Diana SzékelyMuseo de Zoología, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador.
Diego Armijos-OjedaMuseo de Zoología, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador.
Fausto R SiavichayCentro de Conservación de Anfibios, Bioparque Amaru, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Jackeline D ArpiCentro de Conservación de Anfibios, Bioparque Amaru, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Jazmin SalazarUniversidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador.
Jesse ErensDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Mónica I Páez-VacasCentro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios, Fundación Jambatu, Quito, Ecuador.
Paul SzékelyMuseo de Zoología, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador.
Philipp BöningDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Raf StassenHabitats Conservation, Hostert, Luxembourg.
Sofía Carvajal-EndaraTandayapa Cloud Forest Station, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, P.O. Box 17-1200-841, Quito, Ecuador.
Stefan LöttersDepartment of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Juan M GuayasaminLaboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is an emerging and versatile tool in biodiversity research. With recent advances in field sampling techniques, this approach becomes increasingly suited for application in tropical ecosystems where biodiversity monitoring gaps remain significant and species detection is particularly challenging. Using amphibians as a model, we harness eDNA metabarcoding in 52 localities in the Tropical Andean biodiversity hotspot to rapidly trace elusive, threatened, or presumed extinct species as a baseline for conservation action. Metabarcoding ‘bycatch’ of non-target species further revealed specific environmental threats through the detection of invasive species and pathogens, thus facilitating integrative conservation assessments despite the incompleteness of reference data and the vast species richness hampering biodiversity assessments in complex tropical communities. Consequently, we call for more intense employment of eDNA metabarcoding in conservation to rapidly bridge critical knowledge gaps on elusive species or declining populations in tropical biodiversity hotspots.

Indexed as

AmphibiansBiodiversityConservation of Natural ResourcesDNA Barcoding, TaxonomicDNA, EnvironmentalAnimalsEcosystemIntroduced SpeciesMetagenomicsTropical ClimateDNA, EnvironmentalAmphibian crisiseDNAExtinctionInvasive speciesMetagenomicsMonitoringPathogensTropical Andes

Identifiers

PMID41775849
PMCPMC12960794

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.