Dr Jordan Goetze1,3, Marcelle Ayad1,2, Shannon Corrigan1,2, Matthew Fraser1,2, Priscila Goncalves1,2, Eric Raes1,2, Michael Bunce1,2
1Minderoo Foundation, Nedlands, Australia, 2Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA, Crawley, Australia, 3School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Australia
Biography:
Jordan Goetze is a Senior Advisor at the Minderoo Foundation and a marine ecologist with expertise in fisheries assessment, marine conservation, and fish ecology. He has a background spanning academic, postdoctoral, and government research roles, with a focus on informing marine management through large-scale monitoring, conservation, and applied fisheries science.
Abstract:
Environmental DNA (eDNA) continues to emerge as a powerful tool for biodiversity assessment, yet its integration into operational monitoring programs remains limited. For government agencies and marine park managers, a key challenge is determining how eDNA can generate management-relevant indicators that support evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.
This presentation examines the integration of eDNA into an established marine park monitoring program across Australia's Great Southern Reef. The program currently employs a suite of complementary monitoring methods, including Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), to assess ecological condition and management effectiveness. Rather than positioning eDNA as a replacement for existing approaches, this work explores how it can enhance established monitoring frameworks and provide additional ecological insights.
Drawing on practical experience within a government-led monitoring program and focusing on fish communities, this presentation explores how eDNA can complement existing survey methods by improving the detection of rare and cryptic species of conservation interest. Comparisons between eDNA, BRUVS and ROV surveys highlight how cross-validation among methods can increase confidence in species-level detections. The presentation also considers the role that community participation can play in sample collection.
These lessons highlight practical considerations for integrating eDNA into marine park monitoring and provide insights into its potential role within long-term monitoring programs.