Our research develops rapid, accurate biomonitoring tools to track biodiversity change and support conservation. We address key challenges in detecting species and measuring declines by creating large-scale genomic and bioinformatic approaches. Recently, we have focused on large-scale air sampling to study terrestrial biodiversity, combining lab techniques, big data, and field ecology in collaboration with end-users.
Littlefair Lab
Research Projects
Learn more about the research projects in the Littlefair Lab
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Collaborations
Learn more about our collaborations with scientists at UCL, other universities, and scientific bodies.
Gallery
Littlefair Lab meets Princess Anne
Joanne Little with Bicentenary Medal
Our principal funders
Selected publications
Tournayre, O., Littlefair, J. E., Garrett, N.R., Allerton, J.J., Brown, A.S., Cristescu, M.E., Clare, E. L. First national survey of terrestrial biodiversity using airborne eDNA Scientific Reports 15, 19247.
Williams, M.A., Poultney, S.J., Hallam, J., Hewitson, T.E., Littlefair, J.E. From anecdotes to evidence: Environmental DNA detection of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) at the southern limit of its circumpolar range Journal of Fish Biology.
Littlefair, J.E., Allerton, J.J., Brown, A.S., Butterfield, D.M., Robins, C., Economou, C.E., Garrett, N.R., Clare, E.L. (2023) Air-quality networks collect environmental DNA with the potential to measure biodiversity at continental scales Current Biology 33 (11) 426-428.
Garrett, N., …(7 authors)…, Littlefair, J.E.*, Clare E.L. (2023) Airborne eDNA documents a diverse and ecologically complex tropical mammal community Environmental DNA 5 (2) 350-362.
Clare E.L., Economou, C.K., Bennett, F.J., Dyer, C.E., Adams, K., McRobie, B., Drinkwater, R., Littlefair J.E. (2022) Measuring biodiversity from DNA in the air Current Biology 32 (3) 693-700.
Got questions? Get in touch.
Contact us if you have any questions about the Littlefair Lab.
Littlefair Lab
Click to email. j.littlefair@ucl.ac.uk