The study investigates whether integrating environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and citizen science into whale-watching tours can enhance public engagement in marine conservation. Using a Likert-scale questionnaire with 224 participants in Italy, the Azores and Iceland, it assesses attitudes, knowledge and willingness to support conservation through donations, behaviour change and volunteering. Environmental awareness, interest in eDNA and higher education significantly increase willingness to pay, while higher ticket prices reduce it; most respondents report greater awareness of marine biodiversity, eDNA and personal responsibility after the tour, with younger, well-educated and experienced whale-watchers most inclined to contribute and participate. Overall, the results show that eDNA-based citizen science activities on whale-watching platforms offer a scalable, cost-effective way to foster pro-environmental engagement and support marine conservation and biodiversity monitoring.
Citizen science engagement
Citizen science engagement
This study explores the integration of environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling into whale watching tours as a tool to enhance public awareness and participation in marine biodiversity conservation. Conducted across three key regions in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, the initiative engaged over 170 tourists in live eDNA sampling experiences during their tours. Pre- and post-tour surveys revealed a significant increase in knowledge about eDNA and marine conservation topics, regardless of tour duration. These results demonstrate that combining citizen science, eDNA, and marine ecotourism offers an effective, scalable model to foster environmental education, support participatory monitoring, and promote inclusive, community-rooted ocean stewardship.
eDNA sampling optimisation
This study presents an eDNA sampling protocol optimized for cetacean detection aboard whale watching tours across the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. By systematically modifying water volume, sampling timing (immediately or delayed after the target animal’s presence), sampling location (from a whale flukeprint or breach site), and filter type, we show that larger sample volumes (10 L), immediate post-encounter collection from either a flukeprint or breach site, and Smith-Root filters (1.2 µm pore size) significantly enhanced cetacean eDNA detectability. A novel order-specific qPCR assay (Cet-CSS) enabled reliable detection of multiple target species across diverse marine environmental samples. These findings support the integration of citizen science into cetacean monitoring efforts and highlight the scalability of eDNA-based approaches for marine research.
Ring Test
This study assesses the efficiency of DNA extraction protocols across four international laboratories as part of an environmental DNA (eDNA) initiative targeting marine megafauna. The findings reveal significant variability in detection success, with one laboratory's extraction method showing reduced performance for detecting target species DNA. By identifying these methodological discrepancies, this work highlights the need for standardized eDNA protocols to enhance global biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.
English