Spider web eDNA detects fungal pathogen
- 5 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Researchers from the National Institute of Biology, the Slovenian Forestry Institute, and ZRC SAZU have demonstrated that spider webs can serve as highly effective natural collectors of airborne environmental DNA (eDNA), offering a simple new tool for monitoring forest pathogens. In a study published in Environmental DNA, the team tested spider webs as passive samplers for detecting Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the fungus responsible for ash dieback, one of the most damaging tree diseases in Europe.
Field experiments conducted in Slovenian forests showed that spider webs consistently captured substantially more fungal DNA than conventional passive samplers based on filter paper. Depending on the sampling period and web type, spider webs collected more than ten times the amount of target DNA, enabling more reliable detection of the pathogen. Laboratory experiments further confirmed that fungal spores released into the air can be effectively trapped and detected on spider webs.
The findings highlight the potential of spider webs as a low-cost, scalable, and environmentally friendly resource for biodiversity monitoring and disease surveillance. Because spider webs are abundant in most terrestrial habitats and require no installation or maintenance, they could complement existing aerobiological monitoring networks and help provide earlier warnings of emerging plant diseases. Beyond forest health, the approach may also contribute to broader environmental DNA monitoring efforts aimed at tracking biodiversity and ecological change.
