Strengthening global-change science by integrating aeDNA with paleoecoinformatics

Ancient environmental DNA (aeDNA) data are close to enabling insights into past global-scale biodiversity dynamics at unprecedented taxonomic extent and resolution. However, achieving this potential requires solutions that bridge bioinformatics and paleoecoinformatics. Essential needs include support for dynamic taxonomic inferences, dynamic age inferences, and precise stratigraphic depth. Moreover, aeDNA data are complex and heterogeneous, generated by dispersed researcher networks, with methods advancing rapidly. Hence, expert community governance and curation are essential to building high-value data resources. Immediate recommendations include uploading metabarcoding-based taxonomic inventories into paleoecoinformatic resources, building linkages among open bioinformatic and paleoecoinformatic data resources, harmonizing aeDNA processing workflows, and expanding community data governance. These advances will enable transformative insights into global-scale biodiversity dynamics during large environmental and anthropogenic changes.
Contributing authors: Alsos, Inger Greve; Bowler, Chris; Coolen, Marco J.L.; Cullen, Nicola; Crump, Sarah; Epp, Laura Saskia; Fernandez-Guerra, Antonio; Grimm, Eric; Herzschuh, Ulrike; Mereghetti, Alessandro; Meyer, Rachel Sarah; Nota, Kevin; Pedersen, Mikkel Winther; Pérez, Vilma; Shapiro, Beth; Stoof-Leichsenring, Kathleen R.; Wood, Jamie.