Dr Cindy Bessey1, Andrew Martini, Alasdair Currie, Will Ponsonby, Aaron Tyndall, Ryan Crossing, Vinicius Salazar, Kathryn Dawkins, John Pogonoski, Glenn Moore, Nick Mortimer, John Keesing
1CSIRO, Crawley, Australia
Biography:
Cindy Bessey is a marine ecologist whose passion is understanding the role of lower trophic level organisms in sustaining diverse, productive and healthy ecosystems. Cindy’s research projects have included investigating trophic interactions in threatened seagrass ecosystems, evaluating how commercially important fish populations are affected by varying environmental conditions, and assessing the risk that genetically modified fish pose to the natural environment. She currently works on advancing environmental DNA (eDNA) collection techniques for successful implementation into bio-monitoring programs which are cost-effective, easily deployed and accessible to anyone. Her focus is on obtaining diversity data in coastal and offshore systems in order to evaluate ecosystem changes resulting from both anthropogenic and natural pressures. Her international employment experience includes positions with the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in California, USA, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract:
Advances in environmental DNA methodologies are helping obtain biodiversity knowledge from challenging environments. We present the design and validation of a new sampling device, the OCD, that leverages existing survey technology to passively capture an integrated eDNA sample over the length of a transect in waters up to 6000m deep. The OCD is a mountable box that attaches to a preexisting deep tow camera system, which can be opened and closed at any depth for any duration. The internal chamber of the OCD contains a sterile active carbon sponge insert enabling eDNA to be captured when exposed to the surrounding water column. We deployed the OCD sampler during a voyage to the Gascoyne Marine Park region off northwest Australia to test the efficiency of eDNA capture using fish as our example organism. We compare the large number of fishes detected by the OCD with bottom trawl survey data collected during the same voyage, as well as known regional species information. We discuss our learnings from manufacturing and testing of the OCD sampler, how to establish appropriate field controls, and how this technology could advance our scientific understanding in ocean studies.