Quick facts
Object of research:
Monitoring, Metabarcoding, eDNA
Description
The Joint Danube Survey (JDS) is one of the most comprehensive investigative surface-water monitoring efforts in the world. Orchestrated by the ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River), the key purpose of JDS is to gather vital data on carefully selected elements of water quality across the entire length of the Danube River and its major tributaries. The project harmonizes water monitoring practices across the Danube countries, following the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) to achieve good water quality.
Three JDS events have been previously conducted – in 2001, 2007, and 2013. The fourth survey, JDS4, took place throughout 2019 at 51 sampling sites in 13 countries across the Danube River Basin. The outcome of JDS4 will fill the information gaps necessary to enable the planned 2021 update of the Danube River Basin Management Plan.
For the first time, JDS4 included DNA metabarcoding methods, carried out through the University of Essen. The resulting eDNA samples are centrally archived for JDS at the ZFMK Biobank.
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