For the last decade, environmental DNA (eDNA) has been the darling of conservation biology and ecosystem monitoring. By capturing fragments of genetic material left behind in water, scientists and managers can quickly identify which species are present—an enormous leap forward compared to traditional survey methods like netting, diving, or trapping.
But here’s the catch: eDNA is only half the story. It tells us who is there, but not what they’re doing. That’s where environmental RNA (eRNA) is poised to play a revolutionary role.
Unlike DNA, which is chemically stable and lingers in the environment long after organisms shed it, RNA degrades rapidly. This fragility makes it trickier to work with—but also far more revealing. eRNA reflects current biological activity: which species are actively reproducing, metabolizing, stressed, or declining. In other words, eDNA provides a census, while eRNA provides a pulse check.
Lakes, and beyond
Since Lake Pulse is entirely focused on lakes, we recognize the role of eDNA in confirming the presence of fish, algae, or invasive mussels, but eRNA helps managers understand whether populations are thriving, struggling, or reproducing. Other aquatic ecosystems will also greatly benefit from eRNA, for example:
• Marine ecosystems: eRNA can reveal how fish stocks, coral, or plankton populations are responding in real time to warming waters or acidification.
• Rivers: Beyond species detection, eRNA can show how migratory fish are actually spawning or whether pollution is stressing sensitive aquatic invertebrates.
• Wetlands: These ecosystems are biodiversity powerhouses, and eRNA can track microbial activity tied to carbon storage and greenhouse gas release.
The Role of Biotech Innovation
The rise of eRNA monitoring is part of a broader wave of biotechnology innovation reshaping how we safeguard freshwater and marine biodiversity. Advanced sequencing tools, molecular assays, and machine learning analytics are converging to make it possible to track ecosystem health at unprecedented resolution. These innovations are turning what was once costly, specialized science into scalable, field-ready solutions, giving resource managers new ways to reduce biodiversity risks and protect the ecosystems that underpin global economies and human well-being.
Aquatic Ecosystems on the Climate Front Line
In our new climate reality, aquatic ecosystems are among the first and hardest hit. From wildfire runoff and storm-driven flooding to drought, salinity intrusion, extreme temperature swings, wind-driven turbidity, and surging pest, invasive, and biological (PIB) risks—lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal zones are experiencing a barrage of stresses. Understanding not just who lives there but how life is coping has become a fundamental requirement for managing biodiversity loss. Without this insight, we are effectively flying blind in our attempts to steward these ecosystems through accelerating disruption.
Why Now? The Cost Barrier Is Falling
For years, eRNA analytics were limited to academic labs with deep budgets. But advances in sequencing technology and bioinformatics are rapidly driving down costs, bringing the eRNA toolbox of solutions to Lake Pulse subscribers.
Challenging the Assumption
It’s tempting to think of eDNA as the “core” tool, with eRNA as a sophisticated add-on. But that framing may already be out of date. As we seek not just to map biodiversity, but to measure ecosystem function and resilience in a changing climate, eRNA has a claim to being the more critical tool.
Speculatively, we may soon view eDNA as the static backdrop—essential for establishing presence—but eRNA as the leading indicator that tells us how populations are functioning and how ecosystems are adapting (or failing to adapt) in real time.
The Road Ahead
Imagine early-warning systems for harmful algal blooms, fisheries managers predicting spawning success with precision, or wetland stewards tracking carbon dynamics season by season—all made possible by eRNA. The future of aquatic ecosystem monitoring will not be about choosing eDNA or eRNA, but about recognizing that eRNA may ultimately become the sharper lens for understanding the living, breathing activity of water ecosystems.