15 new species have been discovered in Swedish lakes and watercourses.
This concerns a feather midge and 14 different diatom algae, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The feather midge is currently referred to as Procladius exilis Brodin 2024. Its larvae live on the bottom of, for example, lakes, and the adult midges are not interested in being stung. The diatom algae, on the other hand, have not yet been given a name, writes the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
This is through the research project FRESHBAR, which has examined the bottom fauna in Swedish freshwater.
By developing methods for capturing DNA from organisms and identifying them, researchers want to create an eDNA library. In this way, they will be able to monitor and protect biodiversity, to see how the environment is doing and developing over time.
"The DNA results we obtained in the project are already being used for both taxonomic research and for developing new monitoring methods, which is very gratifying," says Maria Kahlert, research leader for FRESHBAR, in a press release.
The project is one of eight that focus on developing DNA methods for national environmental monitoring.
