Sponsor & Exhibitor Profiles

The Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER – www.tropwater.com) conducts influential research in fields related to water science, resource management and the ecology of aquatic ecosystems. The Centre has a strong, but not exclusive, focus on tropical systems, both in Australia and internationally. It is concerned with major issues in water science, including water resources, water quality and aquatic biodiversity, in relation to economic, social and environmental needs, constraints and change.

TropWATER is leading large-scale research programmes aiming to develop rapid and cost-effective eDNA technology to identify and monitor species of management concern in northern Australia. This technology is revolutionising how we investigate biodiversity and the TropWATER team are experts in using eDNA-based approaches for practical monitoring and assessment of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. We are currently applying eDNA techniques to estimate the presence and distribution of aquatic invasive species (tilapia, climbing perch, snakeheads, cane toads), rare and endangered species (sawfish, frogs, turtles), invasive terrestrial species (invasive ants, invasive bees and Varroa mites) and to determine the potential effects of fish passage barriers on barramundi movements.  We have a special focus on developing simple methods that enable citizen scientists and Indigenous Ranger groups to undertake eDNA monitoring in remote environments.