Dr Josephine Hyde1, Ms Mia Wheeler1, Ms Liesel Morgan1, Ms Shriya Bhattacharya1, Dr Heidi Nistelberger1, Dr Emily Hoffmann2, Mr Brad Durrant1, Dr Joel Huey1,2
1Biologic, Perth, Australia, 2The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Biography:
Josephine is a Senior Geneticist at Biologic, where she works in the Molecular Systematics team within the Environmental Services group. Since completing her PhD at Adelaide Uni in 2018, she has worked across academia, government, and industry, with research spanning evolutionary biology, microbiomes, and, more recently, environmental DNA. She contributed to the development of the axenic mosquito model for microbiome research and was instrumental in establishing the eDNA laboratory at DBCA, where she led its operation during its first three years. Her current work focuses on applying eDNA and genomics to biodiversity monitoring and environmental assessment. She is passionate about bridging research and real-world environmental management by developing molecular tools that are both scientifically rigorous and practical to implement.
Abstract:
The sunset frog (Spicospina flammocaerulea) is an endangered peatland endemic that is currently only known to exist at about 30 locations within a 300 km2 area north and north-east of Walpole in southwest Western Australia. The species is impacted by disease and habitat degradation through climate change and environmental disturbance. We require a repeatable survey method that can detect populations outside of the breeding season, when calls are used for detection, and detect “silent” populations. We have developed a sunset frog qPCR assay, which has been laboratory and field validated. Primer and probe specificity were assessed against both the sunset frog and co-occurring frog species in the area both in silico analyses and laboratory testing. Additional testing of the assay was performed at an independent laboratory to assess reproducibility. Field sampling was conducted over three trips from 2025-2026; pools were selected on the first trip after visual sightings of the frogs and returned to on subsequent trips. This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the assay performance across two seasons and include insights into how field sampling effects assay performance. These results will help to inform optimum strategies for routine monitoring of this endangered species and along with further modelling work help to identify the status of the sunset frog population across their known and predicted range.