Dr Anna MacDonald1, Dr Maddie Brasier1, Dr Julie McInnes1, Andrea Polanowski1, Dr Leonie Suter1
1Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Australia
Biography:
Anna is a Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Antarctic Division. She uses genetic methods to study ecological questions and to inform wildlife management and policy. This includes using environmental DNA to survey biodiversity and detect invasive species, using scat DNA to study predator diets, and using genetics to inform conservation and management of threatened species. A key focus of Anna’s work is developing standardised and accessible tools and resources to enable genetic monitoring.
Abstract:
The sub-Antarctic Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) form one of Australia’s most remote territories, recognised for their exceptional ecological value through World Heritage listing and marine reserve status. These largely undisturbed ecosystems provide important habitat for diverse species, but their isolation limits opportunities to characterise biodiversity or to monitor ecosystem changes. During the 2025-2026 field season, the Australian Antarctic Program completed the first HIMI management and research voyages in two decades. As part of this campaign, we conducted an environmental DNA (eDNA) survey to improve understanding of native biodiversity, establish baseline data, and support future monitoring and marine reserve management.
Marine eDNA samples were collected across the HIMI region from the RSV Nuyina. Surface water was filtered at least three times daily, while passive sponge samplers were deployed alongside other scientific equipment to capture eDNA from deeper waters. At Heard Island, field teams collected terrestrial (freshwater) and coastal (seawater) eDNA samples using syringe filtration. This presentation reports preliminary eDNA metabarcoding results, and highlights some of the challenges of conducting eDNA surveys in such remote and extreme conditions.