Spirit media DNA sequence data

This dataset comprises metabarcoding (12S) and shotgun sequencing data obtained from archival DNA present in liquid preservation media collected from the Australian National Wildlife Collection. Media were sourced from a composite sample of 61 vouchered specimens (“Known”) and from five unlinked specimen-preparation waste streams (“Unknown”). DNA was captured using passive adsorption and active filtration, extracted with hot alkaline lysis, and sequenced on an Illumina NovaSeq. The dataset includes all experimental samples as well as filtration, ethanol, and equipment negative controls as well as code used to analyse and generate figures associated with Tulloch et al (2026) "Evaluating the molecular potential and interpretability of DNA in historical spirit collection media".