Dr Haylo Roberts1, Dr Andrew Weeks1, Sam Marwood2, Dr Sue Song1, Dr Luke Noble1, Dr Rachael Impey1, Dr Dale McNeil3, Cassandra Duncan2
1EnviroDNA, Brunswick, Australia, 2Odonata Foundation, South Melbourne, Australia, 3Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Canberra, Australia
Biography:
Haylo is a molecular scientist who specialises in eDNA processing and next-generation sequencing technologies. He recently completed a PhD in population genomics of Wolbachia, before moving to apply his studies in utilising eDNA technologies for conservation of Australian wildlife. Working at on eDNA since 2022, Haylo has played a key role in developing and scaling eDNA sample processing and analyses. Passionate about citizen science and the translation of science, Haylo also has a flare for scientific communication.
Abstract:
Determining the geographic spread, presence, and absence of a species is integral to making informed biodiversity management decisions. Traditional methods of species detection can be time consuming, expensive, logistically difficult, and invasive – limiting opportunities for wide-scale, frequent biodiversity surveys, and consequently reducing information available to environmental managers. Environmental DNA sampling and subsequent metabarcoding analysis is a sensitive, cost-effective, and efficient method which can cover large spatial and temporal scales to gather biodiversity data. The Great Australian Wildlife Search (GAWS) is a large citizen science program, led by Odonata Foundation in partnership with EnviroDNA, that aims to map and monitor aquatic vertebrate biodiversity across Australia utilising the power of eDNA methods. The first phase of the program mapped aquatic vertebrate biodiversity in Victoria across over 1800 sites in Spring 2021.
In Spring 2023 and 2024, in partnership with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, GAWS moved to the Murray-Darling Basin where ~500 waterway sites were sampled across the basin with citizen scientists sampling in multiple states including Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Citizen scientists were recruited through various networks and registered interest to sample identified sites through a website. EnviroDNA eDNA sampling kits were sent to participants where sample volumes and locations were recorded. Samples sent back to EnviroDNA for processing where each sample underwent eDNA metabarcoding analyses targeting fish and vertebrate taxa. Here we discuss the results from this program, highlighting the potential of eDNA as a biodiversity baselining and monitoring tool, and the power of citizen scientists to enable greater geographical spread and sampling capacity.