BS EN ISO 21286:2020 - Soil Quality: Identification of Ecotoxicological Test Species by DNA Barcoding

Discover the cutting-edge standard that is revolutionizing the way we understand soil quality and its ecological impact. The BS EN ISO 21286:2020 is a comprehensive guide that provides a standardized method for identifying ecotoxicological test species using DNA barcoding. Released on May 20, 2020, this standard is an essential tool for environmental scientists, ecologists, and anyone involved in soil quality assessment.

Overview

With the increasing need to monitor and maintain soil health, the BS EN ISO 21286:2020 standard offers a reliable and efficient method for identifying species that are crucial for ecotoxicological testing. This standard utilizes DNA barcoding, a modern technique that allows for precise species identification, ensuring accurate and consistent results in soil quality assessments.

Key Features

• Standard Number: BS EN ISO 21286:2020
• Pages: 30
• Release Date: May 20, 2020
• ISBN: 978 0 539 06973 0
• Status: Standard

Why DNA Barcoding?

DNA barcoding is a revolutionary technique that uses a short genetic sequence from a standardized region of the genome to identify species. This method is highly accurate and can be used to identify a wide range of organisms, from plants and animals to fungi and microorganisms. By implementing DNA barcoding, the BS EN ISO 21286:2020 standard ensures that ecotoxicological test species are identified with precision, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing the reliability of soil quality assessments.

Applications

The BS EN ISO 21286:2020 standard is applicable in various fields, including:

• Environmental Monitoring: Ensures accurate identification of species involved in soil health assessments.
• Ecotoxicology: Provides a reliable method for identifying test species, crucial for evaluating the ecological impact of pollutants.
• Agriculture: Helps in assessing soil quality, which is vital for sustainable farming practices.
• Research and Development: Facilitates studies on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Benefits

Adopting the BS EN ISO 21286:2020 standard offers numerous benefits, including:

• Accuracy: DNA barcoding provides precise species identification, minimizing errors in ecotoxicological testing.
• Consistency: Standardized methods ensure uniformity in soil quality assessments across different studies and regions.
• Efficiency: Streamlines the process of species identification, saving time and resources.
• Reliability: Enhances the credibility of soil quality assessments, supporting informed decision-making in environmental management.

Conclusion

The BS EN ISO 21286:2020 standard is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in soil quality assessment and environmental management. By leveraging the power of DNA barcoding, this standard provides a robust framework for identifying ecotoxicological test species, ensuring accurate and reliable results. Whether you are an environmental scientist, ecologist, or agricultural professional, this standard is a must-have tool for enhancing your soil quality assessments and contributing to sustainable environmental practices.

BS EN ISO 21286:2020

This standard BS EN ISO 21286:2020 Soil quality. Identification of ecotoxicological test species by DNA barcoding is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.080.30 Biological properties of soils

This document specifies a protocol to identify ecotoxicological test specimens (mainly invertebrates and plants) to the species level, based on the DNA barcoding technique. This protocol can be used by laboratories performing DNA barcoding in order to standardize both the wet-lab and data analysis workflows as much as possible, and make them compliant with community standards and guidelines.

This document does not intend to specify one particular strain for each test method, but to accurately document the species/strain which was used.

NOTE 1 This does not imply that DNA barcoding is performed in parallel to each test run, but rather regularly (e.g. once a year, such as reference substance testing) and each time a new culture is started or new individuals are added to an ongoing culture.

This document does not aim at duplicating or replacing morphological-based species identifications. On the contrary, DNA barcoding is proposed as a complementary identification tool where morphology is inconclusive, or to diagnose cryptic species, in order to ensure that the results obtained from different ecotoxicological laboratories are referring to the same species or strain.

This document is applicable to identifications of immature forms which lack morphological diagnostic characters (eggs, larvae, juveniles), as well as the streamline identification of specimens collected in field monitoring studies, where large numbers of organisms from diverse taxa are classified.

NOTE 2 In principle, all species regularly used in ecotoxicological testing can be analysed by DNA barcoding. Besides the earthwoms Eisenia fetida and E. andrei, further examples for terrestrial species are Lumbricus terrestris, L. rubellus, Allolobophora chlorotica, Aporrectodea rosea, and A. caliginosa, Dendrodrilus rubidus, Enchytraeus albidus, and E. crypticus (Haplotaxida); Folsomia candida, F. fimetaria, Proisotoma minuta, and Sinella curviseta (Collembola); Hypoaspis aculeifer and Oppia nitens (Acari); Aleochara bilineata and Poecilus cupreus (Coleoptera); Scathophaga stercoraria, Musca autumnalis (Diptera) or Pardosa sp. (Arachnida). Nematodes or snails and even plants can also be added to this list.