Maarten De Brauwer, the principal researcher from a recent groundbreaking environmental project, has revealed shocking results. These findings provide important insight into the biodiversity of New South Wales (NSW) waterways. To better understand species that occupy these unique aquatic environments, the project used rapidly developing environmental DNA (eDNA) field surveys that produce essential, non-invasive eDNA data. The most significant finding of all was our first record of cane toads from Coffs Harbour. In doing so, this finding reveals that this invasive species has proliferated much farther south than we had realized.
On a snowy day this past winter, the research team finalized the first survey of the Sandon River. That’s where they found even more cane toad DNA. De Brauwer underlined the urgent necessity to map biodiversity. He hopes that this mapping project could be used to better control invasive species and protect endangered species as well.
“Environmental DNA is a term that refers to traces of DNA of any living being,” – Dr. De Brauwer.
Discoveries in Biodiversity
The survey revealed the prevalence of invasive species. It shone a spotlight on the incredible diversity of life that still flourishes in these vital waterways. Among these were 25 soft corals, fur seals, and black cod now considered threatened, according to their team. One outstanding discovery was the occurrence of the varied sittella, a threatened bird species, recorded on the Sandon River. Scientists found the endangered white seahorse during their eDNA scan.
De Brauwer highlighted that the implications of the findings go beyond aquatic life. The traveling collaborative team made advances in research on the Richmond River. They identified the plants that lacked common names and even found evidence of domestic water buffalo DNA. This finding was surprising because water buffalo do not regularly range in the Northern Rivers region.
“That was a bizarre one — a very strange occurrence,” – Dr. De Brauwer.
The Role of eDNA Surveys
eDNA surveys, while not entirely untested, harness a groundbreaking approach to revealing and tracking biodiversity in our world. This technique allows researchers to capture and analyze genetic material from organisms present in a given habitat without direct observation. De Brauwer elaborated on its applications, stating,
“So it can be a way of detecting threatened species and then knowing what areas to protect because endangered species are present.” – Dr. De Brauwer.
These innovative approaches, along with others, are improving our understanding of species distribution. Yet they show recovery patterns, valuable case studies that can inform conservation efforts.
Implications for Conservation
These findings have important conservation strategy implications across NSW. By identifying where threatened species are located, authorities can target and direct conservation efforts more effectively. This provides them the opportunity to take meaningful action through better invasive species management.
De Brauwer and his fellow Botany Liaison Kait Harris spent months researching. Their goal was to trace the source of the water buffalo DNA found in the Richmond River. They sought out a local farmer who had trained draught horses using water buffalo. This serendipitous find provided new avenues into their training practices.
“My colleague Kait and I did a lot of sleuthing and we found out that a farmer there had used water buffalo to train draught horses, apparently,” – Dr. De Brauwer.
