The Leipzig Canopy Crane experiment: DNA metabarcoding of air samples to monitor seasonal variations in airborne fungal and plant communities composition

Rapid and accurate assessments of ecological responses to environmental changes are key to the development of effective measures aimed at the mitigation of detrimental effects on the integrity of ecosystems and the provision of services that support the livelihoods of billions of people worldwide. Traditionally, however, the study of ecological communities has relied on laborious and complex taxonomic work, that undermines the feasibility and practicality of urgent monitoring programmes.

In the last two decades, the emerging field of environmental DNA analysis has opened to the possibility to study complex systems at a fraction of the original time and financial costs, hence producing vast amounts of vital information. Here, we utilised DNA metabarcoding analysis of bioaerosol samples collected during 2019 at the Leipzig Canopy Crane to study seasonal variations in airborne fungal and plant species composition, in relation to changes in humidity, wind, and temperature. Preliminary results show significant differences in both plant and fungal communities. Specifically, climatic differences between the coldest and warmest months significantly affect the taxa Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, whereas the period between March and April reportedly displayed an increase in the abundance of anemophilous plants and members of the genus Salix. Lastly, with this study we intend to showcase the importance of long-term monitoring programmes of environmental DNA for investigating the implications of climate change.