Miss Georgia Nester1, Prof Mike Bunce1, Dr Nerida Wilson2, Prof Euan Harvey3, Dr Glenn Moore2, Dr Lisa Kirkendale2, Dr Andrew Hosie2, Dr Zoe Richards1,2
1TrEnD (Curtin University), , Australia, 2Western Australian Museum, , Australia, 3Fish ecology (Curtin University), , Australia
Until now, little attention has been paid to the submarine Cape Range Canyon system in the East Indian Ocean. The system is one of the largest in Western Australia, extending over 120 kilometres and reaching approximately 4600 metres in depth. However, a comprehensive biological survey has not been attempted. In April 2020, these canyons were explored in a cruise on board the RV Falkor. The goal of this project is to use eDNA metabarcoding to characterise the biodiversity in these unexplored regions, examining how it varies between habitat types and depths. We visited 16 sites along the Cape Range (12) and Cloates (4) Canyons. ROV transects were conducted at each site, and a 10L eDNA water sample was taken at the beginning and end of the transect. A CTD was also dropped at each site, collecting 3 water replicates (10L) at five depths; ‘bottom’, 1000m, 500m, 200m and surface. We applied three metabarcoding assays to the eDNA samples; 16S Fish, Leray COI, and a newly developed Mut-S assay for the detection of Octocoral taxa. The outlook for important discoveries was high and through the use of the ROV, we were able to discover 30 new species. All specimens collected were barcoded with COI, with the addition of 16S for fish, and Mut-S for Octocorals. eDNA results are currently preliminary, but thus far we have added new species records for Western Australia, and detected several taxa of interest including a giant squid.
Biography:
Georgia is undertaking her PhD within the TrEnD laboratory at Curtin University in Western Australia. Her PhD project, ‘Monitoring blue biodiversity: examining diversity patterns in oceanic environments using environmental DNA’, involves collaborations between Curtin University, the Knysna Basin Project, the Western Australian Museum and the Australian Antarctic Division. The project aims to use environmental DNA to determine patterns in marine biodiversity in areas that are severely underrepresented in the literature and provide innovative methods of monitoring threatened species. Georgia is experienced in using metabarcoding techniques as demonstrated through her PhD and through a scholarship she was awarded in 2018 in partnership with Chevron and Curtin University. She is also proficient with bioinformatic workflows having completed an internship at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in 2019. She is passionate about improving how we apply eDNA technologies to our marine environment and how they can be beneficial for conservation and hopes to continue research in this realm.