A new study has found that devices used to measure air quality in the environment also take in DNA material from the local area. Scientists say this collected DNA can be useful in identifying what plants and animals have been in the area. It could also help document changes in the environment over time. Researchers say the finding suggests air quality measuring devices have collected large amounts of biodiversity data. But the collection efforts have not been recognized until now, said Elizabeth Clare. She is a biologist at Canada’s York University and a lead writer of the s...
A new study has found that devices used to measure air quality in the environment also take in DNA material from the local area. Scientists say this collected DNA can be useful in identifying what plants and animals have been in the area. It could also help document changes in the environment over time. Researchers say the finding suggests air quality measuring devices have collected large amounts of biodiversity data. But the collection efforts have not been recognized until now, said Elizabeth Clare. She is a biologist at Canada’s York University and a lead writer of the study.
一项新的研究发现，用于测量环境空气质量的设备也会采集到当地的DNA物质。科学家表示，这些收集到的DNA可以用来识别哪些植物和动物曾在该区域出现。这也有助于记录环境随时间的变化。研究人员表示，这项发现暗示空气质量测量设备已经收集了大量的生物多样性数据。然而，直到现在，这些收集工作才被认知，伊丽莎白·克莱尔说。她是加拿大约克大学的生物学家，也是这项研究的主要作者。
As animals and plants go through their life cycles, they leave small pieces of themselves in the environment. This includes materials such as fur, feathers or pollen that identify their genetic makeup. Scientists have long known this kind of environmental DNA can float in water. They have even used it to follow, or track, different species in lakes and rivers. But it has been much harder to get a genetic picture of animals living on land, said Kristine Bohmann. She studies environmental DNA at the University of Copenhagen. She was not involved in the latest study. In 2021, both Bohmann and Clare worked on similar projects to see whether they could pull animal DNA from the air. After setting up collection equipment in local zoos, the teams were able to capture and examine DNA from many different species.
随着动植物经历其生命周期，它们会在环境中留下自身的小片段。这包括识别其基因构成的毛发、羽毛或花粉等物质。科学家们早就知道，这种环境DNA可以在水中漂浮。他们甚至利用它跟踪湖泊和河流中的不同物种。但是，要获取陆地生活动物的基因图谱要困难得多，克里斯廷·博曼说。她在哥本哈根大学研究环境DNA，但并未参与最新的这项研究。2021年，博曼和克莱尔都在做类似的项目，看他们是否能从空气中提取动物DNA。在当地动物园设立收集设备后，这些团队能够捕获并检测来自许多不同物种的DNA。
After seeing success in that process, the researchers wanted to expand their efforts to larger areas. In the latest study, Clare and her team tested air filters from two measuring stations, one in London and one in Scotland. The two places are part of a large network that tests for pollution. After getting DNA from pieces inside the air filters, the team was able to identify more than 180 different kinds of plants and animals, study writer Joanne Littlefair said. She is a biologist at Queen Mary University of London.
在这个过程中取得成功后，研究人员希望将他们的努力扩大到更大的区域。在最新的研究中，克莱尔和她的团队测试了来自两个测量站的空气过滤器，一个在伦敦，一个在苏格兰。这两个地方是一个大型网络的一部分，用于检测污染。从空气过滤器内部的片段中获取DNA后，该团队能够识别出180多种不同的植物和动物，研究作者乔安娜·利特尔费尔说。她是伦敦玛丽皇后大学的生物学家。
The filter data identified many different life forms, including grasses, fungi, deer, hedgehogs and songbirds, Littlefair said. Now, the team hopes to capture DNA data on ecosystems all over the world. Clare noted that even though biodiversity issues affect the whole world, it is hard to carry out widespread testing. James Allerton is an air quality scientist at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory. He told The Associated Press that it is much easier to use capturing systems that are already in place.
利特尔费尔表示，过滤器数据识别出了许多不同的生命形式，包括草类、真菌、鹿、刺猬和鸣禽。现在，该团队希望能够获取全球各地生态系统的DNA数据。克莱尔指出，尽管生物多样性问题影响着全世界，但要进行广泛的检测是很困难的。詹姆斯·阿勒顿是英国国家物理实验室的空气质量科学家。他告诉美联社，使用已经存在的捕获系统要容易得多。
Allerton noted that many countries have networks to measure air quality. Some also store their old filters for many years. He said such data could help demonstrate how ecosystems have changed over time. Fabian Roger is working on a similar project at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. He wrote in an email to the AP that more research will be needed to see if data from the filters can show real biodiversity changes over time. Roger added that he finds it exciting that an existing system could help track wildlife across large areas in the environment.
阿勒顿指出，许多国家都有测量空气质量的网络。有些还存放了多年的旧过滤器。他表示，这些数据可以帮助展示生态系统随时间的变化。法比安·罗杰正在瑞士苏黎世联邦理工学院进行类似的项目。他在一封给美联社的电子邮件中写道，需要更多的研究才能看出过滤器的数据是否能真实反映生物多样性随时间的变化。罗杰补充说，他发现现有的系统能帮助追踪环境中大范围区域的野生动物，这让他感到非常兴奋。
Biodiversity (生物多样性)
Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
生物多样性对于维持健康的生态系统至关重要。
Document (记录)
Please document all the findings in this experiment.
请记录下这个实验中所有的发现。
Genetic makeup (基因构成)
Your genetic makeup determines your physical characteristics.
你的基因构成决定了你的身体特征。
Species (物种)
Many species are endangered due to climate change.
由于气候变化，许多物种处于濒危状态。
Ecosystem (生态系统)
We should protect the ecosystem for future generations.
我们应该保护生态系统以惠及未来的一代。
Filters (过滤器)
You should replace the filters in your air purifier every few months.
你应该每隔几个月就更换空气净化器的过滤器。
Hedgehogs (刺猬)
Hedgehogs are small animals with sharp spines on their backs.
刺猬是背上有锐利刺的小动物。
Pollen (花粉)
I always sneeze a lot during the pollen season.
每到花粉季节，我总是打喷嚏打个不停。
Fungi (真菌)
Mushrooms are a type of fungi.
蘑菇是一种真菌。
Songbirds (鸣禽)
In the morning, you can hear songbirds chirping.
在早晨，你可以听到鸣禽的叫声。
