Detection of black rat inhabitation using environmental DNA

The all raw data of this study including expeirment 1, 2 and primer specificitiy as well as LOD. Pest management is essential for safeguarding agricultural productivity, public health, and ecological balance, especially as the global demand for sustainable pest control strategies rises with population growth. Among emerging technologies, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has gained prominence as a powerful tool, enabling the detection of pest species by isolating their genetic material from environmental samples. This study explores the innovative application of eDNA analysis in black rat (Rattus rattus) management, utilizing wipe sampling to recover eDNA from the air. Key experiments were found to determine the minimum surface area (~5 inch area) required for effective eDNA collection and to analyze the temporal persistence of black rat eDNA over two months. Our findings demonstrate the potential of eDNA techniques to transform pest management strategies, offering a highly efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable approach to monitoring and controlling black rat populations. This work represents a significant advancement in integrating molecular tools into pest control practices.