After just over a decade from the first published study employing environmental DNA (eDNA) methods to detect macro-organisms (Ficetola et al. 2008), eDNA has revolutionized the science of species detection and is now broadly recognized as one of the most effective methods to determine the presence or absence of a species in aquatic environments. However, innovative research is demonstrating that eDNA (and potentially eRNA) could provide a trove of genetic and ecological information beyond species presence or absence data. Novel research on understanding the dynamics of environmental nucleic acids (e.g. its production, degradation, transport, and state) in nature are refining its application as a means to study or monitor population ecology, and novel research has highlighted eDNA as a potential source population genetic information. Similarly, emergent research on eRNA has illustrated its potential to allow researchers to push beyond species-level detections to infer the physiological state of progenitor organisms. In this symposium, we hear from researchers who are using eDNA and eRNA to study evolutionary or ecological questions beyond traditional species presence/absence applications. Our speakers will discuss effective ways by which eDNA can inform on the spatio-temporal dynamics of ecological communities, future prospects for monitoring organism abundance using eDNA, leveraging eDNA to obtain population genetic information, and pushing the resolution of detection beyond species-level applications using eRNA. Presentations in this symposium will explore opportunities to use eDNA and eRNA to study population and community ecology beyond species detection applications, while also identifying knowledge gaps and discussing potential limitations.