University of Copenhagen Researchers Advance DNA Vacuum Method for Mapping Wildlife From Air Samples

University of Copenhagen Researchers Advance DNA Vacuum Method for Mapping Wildlife From Air Samples

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have advanced a “DNA vacuum” method that collects airborne environmental DNA to identify wildlife in natural areas. In two new studies, the team collected air samples from Æbelø, Kalvebod Commons and Lille Vildmose in Denmark. The method detected local wildlife including birds, mammals and one amphibian species, suggesting that airborne DNA signals can reflect species presence in a specific area. The DNA vacuum uses a fan to draw air through a filter, where genetic traces from animals are captured. The DNA is then sequenced and compared with animal DNA databases. The researchers hope the method can become an additional tool for biodiversity monitoring, helping detect endangered species, track the effects of conservation work and identify invasive species early.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 23-Jul-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed and refined a “DNA vacuum” capable of collecting genetic traces of animals from the air, offering a new way to identify wildlife living in natural areas.

In two new studies, the researchers used the method to collect airborne environmental DNA in three natural sites in Denmark: Æbelø north of Funen, Kalvebod Commons on Amager, and Lille Vildmose in North Jutland.

The studies show that airborne DNA sampling can detect animals present in a local area without researchers needing to see or physically capture them.

Animals leave behind tiny traces of genetic material through hair, feathers, skin cells and other biological particles. These traces can remain suspended in the air and be captured using the DNA vacuum.

The device works by drawing air through a filter, similar to those used in ordinary vacuum cleaner bags. DNA collected on the filter can then be sequenced and compared with animal DNA databases to identify which species are present.

The researchers said the latest results indicate that the method is becoming more precise.

Kasun Bodawatta, postdoctoral researcher at the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen and one of the lead authors of the two studies, said the team did not detect DNA from animals that should only be found many kilometres away.

He said this suggests that the airborne DNA signals reflect local wildlife and that the DNA vacuum method has improved in accuracy.

Across the three natural areas, the researchers found DNA traces from species characteristic of each location.

At Kalvebod Commons, they detected traces of birds including Eurasian teal, common snipe, bearded reedling and northern lapwing.

In Lille Vildmose, the method identified DNA from species including tawny owl, great spotted woodpecker, Eurasian bullfinch and European buffalo.

On the forested island of Æbelø, the researchers found traces of white-tailed eagle, long-eared owl and European fallow deer, among others.

The University of Copenhagen research group was among the first in the world to demonstrate in 2022 that airborne DNA could be collected from animals in Copenhagen Zoo.

The team later showed that the method could also capture DNA traces from animals in a forest area on Zealand.

The two latest studies move the method further toward practical use in nature monitoring.

Researchers have improved the DNA vacuum’s efficiency and increased the number of species that can be detected per sample.

The work could eventually support biodiversity monitoring by helping identify whether endangered species are present in a specific area or detecting invasive species before they become established.

Kristine Bohmann, environmental DNA expert, associate professor at the Globe Institute and senior author of the two studies, said the team hopes DNA vacuuming can become an additional tool for mapping species presence.

She said the method could help provide an overview of how conservation initiatives affect biodiversity in a given area.

The research also explores how airborne animal DNA spreads across space and time, which is considered essential for using the method as a biodiversity monitoring tool.

The team plans to continue investigating how recently animals may have left behind the DNA captured by the vacuum and how close they may have been to the sampling site.

The researchers also aim to test how the technology performs in climates beyond Denmark, including tropical environments.

The two new studies have been published in Communications Biology and Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

In one study, the researchers examined how filter type, airflow and storage temperature influence DNA capture. Across the three Danish natural areas, they recorded 52 bird species, 19 mammals and one amphibian species.

In the second study, focused on how long the vacuuming process should take, the researchers found traces of 54 bird species, 18 mammals and one amphibian species in Lille Vildmose.

The findings bring airborne environmental DNA sampling closer to becoming a practical tool for monitoring biodiversity and understanding wildlife presence in natural landscapes.

About the research

In two studies, the researchers investigated how to improve the method behind the DNA vacuum.

They did this, among other things, by examining the presence of animal DNA in the air in three different natural areas in Denmark: Kalvebod Commons, Lille Vildmose, and Æbelø.

A plastic box forms the exterior of the DNA vacuum, while a computer fan inside the box draws air from the surroundings through a regular filter—similar to those used in standard vacuum cleaner bags—where the DNA is deposited.

To capture DNA, the researchers hung the vacuums in trees in the three natural areas and analyzed the filters. They then sequenced the captured DNA and compared it with a database of animal DNA to identify which animals were represented.

In one study, the researchers examined the influence of filter type, airflow, and storage temperature on DNA capture. In this study, they recorded 52 bird species, 19 mammals, and one amphibian species across the three natural areas.

In the other study, the researchers examined how long the vacuuming needed to take. Here, they found traces of 54 birds, 18 mammals, and one amphibian species in Lille Vildmose.

The research group is now continuing to investigate how long it may have been since the animals left behind the DNA captured by the vacuum, and how close they may have been to the sampling site.

Media Contacts:

Postdoc Kasun Bodawatta
Globe Institute
Email: bodawatta@sund.ku.dk
Phone: +45 91 72 49 96

Kristine Bohmann
Associate Professor
Globe Institute
Email: kbohmann@sund.ku.dk
Phone: +45 40 75 05 21

William Brøns Petersen
Communications Consultant
UCPH Communication
Email: william.petersen@adm.ku.dk
Phone: +45 93 56 55 80

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen