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Parameterizing the particle size distribution of environmental DNA provides insights into its improved availability from the water

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Abstract

Previous studies estimated the particle size distribution (PSD) of environmental DNA (eDNA) to infer its persistence state in the water and to determine the size fraction in which eDNA particles are concentrated. These results, however, depend on the combination of filter pore sizes and may not necessarily provide the proper implications for the eDNA state and availability in the water. To address this issue, the present study proposes parameterizing the PSD using the Weibull distribution model, which has been widely used for various materials. Re-analyses of previous datasets show the Weibull parameters (representing the PSD profiles) significantly depend on species traits, marker types, temperature, and time passages after the removal of the individuals. The results allowed for calculating the proportion of eDNA captured using a given filter pore size and the filter pore size required to collect a given percentage of eDNA particles under various study designs and environmental conditions. The results also posed caveats indicating that the strategy for a sufficient eDNA collection method is not always uniform across experimental and environmental conditions. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the eDNA state and improved eDNA availability, refining eDNA-based biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring.

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Data availability

All the datasets compiled in this study are available in the supplementary files and each original study.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewers and an editor who provided constructive advice to improve the manuscript. The proofreading of the manuscript was partly supported by Grammarly (https://app.grammarly.com).

Funding

This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows (grant numbers JP22 J00439 and JP22 KJ3043).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5 - 3- 1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, 102 - 0083, Japan

    Toshiaki S. Jo

  2. Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, 36- 1, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Toshiaki S. Jo

  3. Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, 1 - 5, Yokotani, Oe-Cho, Seta, Otsu City, Shiga, 520 - 2194, Japan

    Toshiaki S. Jo

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  1. Toshiaki S. Jo
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T.J.S. conceived the study, performed data analyses, and wrote and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Toshiaki S. Jo.

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Jo, T.S. Parameterizing the particle size distribution of environmental DNA provides insights into its improved availability from the water. Environ Monit Assess 197, 519 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-025-13998-4

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