"Spider Webs: Unraveling Wildlife Secrets with Environmental DNA"

Scientists have discovered that spiderwebs can act as air filters, capturing environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates, providing a low-cost and noninvasive tool for monitoring animal biodiversity. By collecting spiderwebs in woodlands and at the Perth Zoo, researchers were able to detect DNA from a variety of animals, including native species and invasive ones. This new technique offers a clever and cute way to track animal biodiversity, aiding conservation efforts and providing valuable insights into the movement and accumulation of DNA in terrestrial environments.