Dr Bronwyn Ayre1, Dr Dale McNeil1, Simon Kaminskas1, Dr Andrew Weeks2, Sam Marwood3, Lisa Thurtell4, Bec Wood4, Dr Nicole Carroll1
1Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Griffith, Australia, 2EnviroDNA, Melbourne, Australia, 3Odonata, Melbourne, Australia, 4Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Bronwyn completed her PhD in plant population genetics at the University of Western Australia, and the West Australian Botanic Gardens in 2019. Since 2021 she’s been working for the Australian Governments Murray-Darling Basin Authority on the Basin Condition Monitoring Program- a 4-year monitoring program co-designed with community members, that aims to increase community involvement in social, economic, environmental and cultural condition monitoring. Bronwyn is passionate about the use of genetic techniques to help answer complicated questions. She has been involved in eDNA projects since 2022, exploring how eDNA can be used to engage communities, inform management and meet reporting requirements.
Abstract:
The Murray–Darling Basin covers 1,059,000 square kilometres or 14% of Australia's land area. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is required to report on the condition of the Basin including the population extent of native fish and waterbird species. In 2021 MDBA launched the Basin Condition Monitoring Program, a $7.5 million quadruple bottom line monitoring program codesigned with community members. One of the program goals is to explore how community members and community knowledge can be used to help monitor the Murray–Darling Basin. In 2023 the MDBA partnered with Odonata, NSW DCCEW and enviroDNA to roll out the Great Australian Wildlife Search across the Basin. Over 200 citizen science volunteers collected eDNA samples at 324 sites across the Basin between September to November 2024. Using both vertebrate and fish eDNA barcoding, 144 species including 17 threatened and 26 invasive species over 41 different fish species were detected, including 6 threatened species. Not only is this data being used to help inform MDBA evaluation and reporting requirements, but it is also connecting community members to local water bodies, building their understanding of the complexities of monitoring large areas, and their knowledge of the MDBA and its role. A repeat sampling season is planned for September 2024, which will be used to compare changes in aquatic biodiversity results and levels of community engagement.