Descriptions, field collections
This project uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to map insect biodiversity across farmland edge habitats and quantify how habitat type, connectivity, and spatial configuration influence pest pressure, natural enemy populations, and overall insect diversity. High-frequency eDNA sampling using floraDNA kits across crops, hedgerows, field margins, and woodlands is integrated with landscape metrics derived from Earth Observation and GIS to model biodiversity responses at multiple spatial scales. The outputs will define evidence-based thresholds and configurations for habitat management that enhance beneficial insects, support conservation biocontrol, and reduce reliance on pesticides, while advancing eDNA as a scalable, decision-grade biodiversity monitoring tool. The project is in proposal stage, with small-scale sample collection to be undertaken in April 2026, which will inform a full BBSRC grant proposal to be submitted in September 2026.