Craig D.H. Sherman1, Eric A. Treml1, Kate Tuohey1, Morgan R. Ellis1, Ty G. Matthews1, Adam D. Miller1, Richard E. Stafford-Bell2, Cian Foster-Thorpe3
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Attwood, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, Australia
Surveillance and monitoring programs are important for detecting the presence of recently introduced marine species and enabling the implementation of management and control actions early in the invasion process. There is therefore a growing need for early, rapid and reliable detection of introduced species to reduce the risk of establishment and spread. Environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches are being increasingly applied to a range of biosecurity and environmental monitoring programs. However, in marine environments fundamental knowledge gaps exist around factors that can influence the probability of detecting eDNA and the design of optimal field sampling protocols. To overcome these limitations, we need to understand factors influencing the spatial and temporal strength of eDNA signals and how best to design sampling protocols to maximise detection. Here we report of a series of controlled laboratory and field experiments designed to improve our understanding of the factors influencing the probability of detecting eDNA and how this information can be used to optimize surveillance programs.
Biography:
Craig Sherman is a marine ecologist and one of the group leaders of the EcoGenetics Lab based at Deakin University. Craig and his team use a combination of ecological and molecular approaches to address fundamental and applied questions in the fields of marine biosecurity, ecological restoration and ecosystem resilience. Craig is a collaborative researcher working with academics, industry and government agencies to find management solutions to complex environmental issues facing coastal and marine ecosystems.