A new study led by Prof. Douglas W. Yu from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences demonstrates that environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding can deliver high-quality, large-scale species distribution data in complex mountain landscapes, addressing a critical global challenge for achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework goals.

The findings were published in Ecology Letters on December 28.

Focusing on the Gaoligong Mountains in Southwest China, a unique convergence of three global biodiversity hotspots and a vital ecological barrier, the researchers surveyed an area of roughly 30,000 square kilometers. Using eDNA metabarcoding, they detected 389 vertebrate species with just 33 days of fieldwork and 69 days in the laboratory.

This unprecedented efficiency uncovered rare and endangered species, including the critically endangered Malayan pangolin (Manis javanica), the endangered dhole (Cuon alpinus), Shortridge's langur (Trachypithecus shortridgei), and the Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani), as well as nationally protected species such as the Gaoligong takin (Budorcas taxicolor) and Sclater's monal (Lophophorus sclateri).

The study's key innovation, a new multi-species occupancy model known as "OccPlus," accurately filters eDNA contamination, ensuring reliable species distribution estimates. For example, OccPlus correctly identified false positives for takins in southern sites, revealing their true northern range, which traditional models failed to do.

The findings include a clear north-to-south increase in freshwater fish richness, revealing that protected areas mainly limit invasives through natural barriers, such as high elevation. Importantly, OccPlus identified human-driven invasion hotspots in Bingzhongluo Town, which are linked to tourism and aquaculture, highlighting anthropogenic pressures.

The study also provides molecular evidence supporting the effectiveness of protected areas. Native terrestrial vertebrates exhibited significantly higher occupancy rates within reserves compared to outside.

This scalable "gold standard" method empowers global conservation in rugged terrain by offering timely, reliable data for policy and management.