Beyond Detection, A New Layer of Insight.
Semi-Quantification: DNA Copies.
We unlock a new level of comparability. The standardization layer that allows to move from relative DNA composition within a site to semi-quantitative comparisons. Site to site. Season to season. Year to year. Now standard in every fish report. Available for other taxa on request.
The difference — side by side · A real world example
Scardinius erythrophthalmus — Rudd — Freshwater Site
| Site | PCR Replicates | # Sequences | Relative Species eDNA Contribution % | DNA copies / Liter NEW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 7 out of 12 | 9,210 | 3% | 17,738 |
| B | 4 out of 12 | 5,620 | 2% | 8,991 |
1
PCR Replicates
Strength of the DNA signal
Rudd DNA was more abundant and easier to detect at Site A than at Site B, appearing in 7 out of 12 PCR replicates at Site A versus 4 at Site B.
2
# Sequences · DNA Composition
Species’ relative contribution to the DNA detected at that site
Rudd represents approximately 3% of eDNA at Site A and 2% at Site B. A similar signal — but only DNA copy numbers reveal the full picture.
3
DNA Copies — the key insight
Semi-Quantification Proxy, powered by digital PCR technology for greater precision and reliability
When we look at DNA molecules per litre, the picture changes entirely: Site A has ~17,700 copies / Liter — almost 2× more than Site B’s ~9,000 copies / Liter.
2×
Rudd is 2 times more abundant in site A than in site B. Relative species contribution to the DNA detected at the site suggest a similar representation in both samples.
DNA copy numbers reveal the true difference. It allows us to move to semi-quantitative comparisons across the different sites.
Key Insights
Comparisons can be made between sites with different filtering volumes, as long as we account for the actual volume sampled at each location.
Allows comparisons between sites and trend analysis over time. It does not provide precise organism counts.
DNA Copies information is now included by default in Spygen’s fish analysis (at no additional cost, freshwater and marine sites). For other taxonomic groups, this information can be provided upon request.
Find out more about the 3 key elements for robust and reliable eDNA protocols in freshwater and marine sites.
Learn more →
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Compare & quantify
Compare taxonomic richness between sites and explore abundance proxies across taxa and locations.
Track over time
Track biodiversity changes over time by comparing results across seasons or years.
Identify habitat patterns
Identify biodiversity patterns within specific taxonomic groups, including richness by habitat type and links to habitat complexity and heterogeneity.
IUCN cross-reference
Identify threatened or invasive species and assess whether a sampling site may overlap with a nursery or breeding area of an IUCN-listed species.
Digital Training · Module 10
Results and Their Ecological Relevance
10 min · Free · Learn to interpret your eDNA results table
