Supporting conservation through eDNA research

The most surprising animals of the Pilbara live in the perpetual darkness of underground aquifers, fissures, voids and caves. The animals living in groundwater, known as stygofauna, are dominated in the Pilbara by crustaceans – ostracods, copepods and amphipods. Image credit: Bennelongia Environmental Consultants

Projects monitoring the endangered Pilbara Olive Python in Western Australia, detecting elusive underground invertebrates and developing new tests to identify invasive marine species are part of Curtin University’s environmental DNA (eDNA) research.

Another of the projects, Living Waters of Western Australia, will enhance the ability to monitor wetland health using DNA-based survey methods, crucial for tackling wetland biodiversity loss in WA. Ancient DNA from sediments will be used to examine past biodiversity changes.

Supporting global conservation efforts, this eDNA for Global Environment Studies program is set to expand with a $7.8 million dollar investment from BHP.

Professor Morten Allentoft, head of Curtin’s Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory, said the research is uncovering valuable insights into the challenges different species are facing.

“Living organisms leave behind traces of DNA in water, soil or air and we can use these genetic breadcrumbs to monitor the health of habitats, track endangered species and detect invasive ones,” Professor Allentoft said.

“Over the past five years, our eDGES program has delivered new high precision biomonitoring tools and provided fundamental new knowledge on biodiversity in threatened ecosystems.

“This second stage of eDGES will elevate research efforts even further, with some projects ongoing and new ones about to start.”