DoomsdaysCW<p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Spiders" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Spiders</span></a> spin webs to catch prey. They’re also trapping a wealth of genetic information</p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DNA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DNA</span></a> captured by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/spiderwebs" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>spiderwebs</span></a> may be a hidden resource that scientists can use to track endangered animals and monitor <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ecosystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystems</span></a>, according to new research.</p><p>By Katie Hunt, CNN </p><p>Published Feb 6, 2024</p><p>"Spiders spin silken webs to capture flies and other tiny prey. They’re also trapping a wealth of DNA from the surrounding environment, a hidden resource that Australian scientists said could be used to track endangered animals and monitor ecosystems.</p><p>"Spiderwebs collected from two locations around Western Australia’s Perth — Perth Zoo and the Karakamia woodland sanctuary — revealed the genetic signature of 93 animals, including native kangaroos and koalas and captive elephants and zebras, according to a study published last week in the journal iScience.</p><p>"Spiderwebs might be a useful way to keep an eye on what animals are around us, according to study coauthor Joshua Newton, a doctoral student at Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences near Perth.</p><p>"'These webs, often overlooked in biodiversity studies, proved to be reservoirs of genetic information,' Newton said in a press release.</p><p>"'With only trace amounts of DNA needed to identify animals, this cheap and non-invasive method could be a game-changer in how we explore and protect our terrestrial <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/biodiversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biodiversity</span></a>.'"</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/spiders-spin-webs-to-catch-prey-theyre-also-trapping-a-wealth-of-genetic-information/1619639" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">accuweather.com/en/weather-new</span><span class="invisible">s/spiders-spin-webs-to-catch-prey-theyre-also-trapping-a-wealth-of-genetic-information/1619639</span></a></p>