Dr Archana Chauhan1
1Panjab University, Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India
Biography:
Dr. Archana Chauhan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, with research interests spanning molecular ecology, environmental genomics, biodiversity assessment, and environmental biotechnology. Her research focuses on the application of emerging molecular tools, particularly environmental DNA (eDNA), metabarcoding, metagenomics, and biosensing technologies, to address contemporary challenges in biodiversity conservation and environmental monitoring. Her work encompasses freshwater biodiversity assessment, invasive species detection, and ecological characterization of Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan ecosystems, including high-altitude lakes of Ladakh and the Pong Reservoir. She has pioneered the application of eDNA-based approaches for fish biodiversity assessment and molecular surveillance of aquatic ecosystems, with particular interest in developing scalable approaches for biodiversity monitoring in remote and environmentally challenging regions. Dr. Chauhan also works at the interface of environmental biotechnology and nanotechnology, including the development of chitosan-based nanocomposites, green synthesis of functional nanomaterials using honey bee products, and molecular biosensors for aquatic pathogens. Her interdisciplinary research integrates genomics, microbiology, nanotechnology, and ecological sciences. She has completed postdoctoral research at the University of Tennessee–Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, and has received research support from agencies including DBT, DST-SERB, UGC, and other national funding programmes. She actively mentors doctoral and postgraduate students and promotes interdisciplinary research linking molecular technologies with biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and One Health. Her research contributes to the development of innovative, non-invasive and scalable tools for understanding and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Abstract:
Biological invasions are a growing threat to freshwater biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystem functioning, yet early detection of non-native species remains difficult using conventional capture-based surveys. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a sensitive, non-invasive, and scalable alternative, detecting aquatic species from DNA traces shed into the surrounding water. This study evaluates eDNA metabarcoding as an early-warning tool for invasive fish surveillance in Indian freshwater ecosystems, using the Pong Reservoir of northern India as a case study.
Water samples were collected from representative sites across the reservoir and processed through DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and high-throughput sequencing, followed by bioinformatic analysis for taxonomic assignment. The resulting eDNA data characterized the resident fish assemblage and provided molecular evidence for the presence of the invasive Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a species of recognized biosecurity concern that would otherwise depend on incidental capture for detection.
Beyond this detection, the approach demonstrates a broader capability: eDNA sampling can be repeated, scaled spatially, and applied with minimal ecosystem disturbance, making it well suited to establishing molecular baselines and flagging early shifts in species distributions before invasions become established. This framework extends to environmentally contrasting, logistically demanding systems, including high-altitude Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan lakes, underscoring its versatility across India's diverse freshwater landscapes.
These findings support integrating eDNA metabarcoding with conventional fisheries surveys, standardized sampling, and temporal monitoring to build a practical early-warning framework for invasive fish, strengthening freshwater biosecurity and supporting evidence-based conservation of India's freshwater ecosystems.