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Recent studies led by an international consortium of researchers, including scientists from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, unveil promising findings in biodiversity conservation through in situ DNA barcoding in the Peruvian Amazon.

Measuring the Earth's biological richness in one of its most remote and biodiverse regions is no small task. The Peruvian Amazon is in imminent danger of losing species to wildfires and habitat destruction before they are ever identified.

Three recent studies, two previously published and the third in Scientific Data, highlight the severe lack of genetic data for the region's species, with 44% of birds and 45% of mammals native to Peru absent from major global databases, GenBank and the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) and Figshare.

The numbers drop further for genetic data generated directly from Peruvian samples—from 44% to 4.3% for birds. These significant data gaps limit conservationists' ability to monitor species diversity and implement effective conservation strategies in a region with unparalleled biodiversity.

The final paper in the trilogy aims to fill the barcoding gaps identified by generating novel genetic sequences from biobanks and capture-recapture sampling.

"Documenting biodiversity is the first step in understanding how ecological communities form and function, which is essential for developing effective conservation strategies that are crucial for sustaining an ecological balance and supporting the livelihoods that depend on these environments," said lead author Pamela Sánchez Vendizú.

With such large gaps in genetic reference databases, traditional survey methods like environmental DNA cannot effectively assess the region's biodiversity. In response, the team created three in situ laboratories using portable nanopore sequencing technologies to document and sequence Amazonian wildlife.

"As species disappear, biologists are increasingly called on to take on the role of historians," said Mrinalini Erkenswick Watsa, Ph.D., scientist with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

"Traditional DNA barcoding pipelines in Peru have relied on collaborations with foreign sequencing partners or services, but our in situ system allows for biodiversity documentation without the export of a single sample.

"By filling gaps in global genetic libraries, we empower conservationists to generate their own data and make informed decisions to combat species extinction. These technologies equip local scientists with the tools to independently protect their ecosystems."

From 2018 to 2023, researchers generated new genetic barcodes for 1,858 specimens, including the first genetic barcodes for 30 mammal and 196 bird species. This increased the representation of Peruvian species in BOLD by up to 110% for mammals and 36.5% for birds.

The project's success stemmed from using portable, long-read sequencing technologies, which enabled real-time, rapid data acquisition and analysis. The novel approach harnessed Peruvian scientists and conservationists' pivotal role in the stewardship of their natural heritage and is vital for responding quickly to conservation emergencies, such as sudden spikes in illegal wildlife trade.

These studies offer a roadmap to saving some of the world's most beloved ecosystems before it's too late. The fate of many species may well depend on this crucial shift in how genetic barcodes are collected, who is trained in data acquisition and where the data is processed.

"This initiative enhances the capabilities of Peruvian scientific institutions to manage and utilize their biodiversity resources effectively, setting a precedent for resource-limited and biodiversity-rich countries worldwide," said César Arana, Ph.D., lead natural historian of the San Marcos Natural History Museum.

The implications of this research extend well beyond the Amazon, offering a model for conservation efforts across the globe and underscoring the vital importance of in-situ genetic research in managing and preserving biodiversity worldwide.

Partnering institutions in this collaborative project include the Amazon Conservation Association, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA, Field Projects International, the Inkaterra Association, Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, and University of Oulu.