Rock pools as a source of environmental DNA for the detection of the threatened Pilbara olive python (Liasis olivaceus barroni)

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Dokumenter

  • Fulltext

    Forlagets udgivne version, 1,52 MB, PDF-dokument

  • M. Mousavi-Derazmahalleh
  • R. J. Ellis
  • B. L. D’Rozario
  • T. E. Berry
  • G. Peverley
  • K. L. Dawkins
  • M. Campbell
  • N. E. White
  • Allentoft, Morten Erik

Environmental DNA (eDNA) research is transforming biomonitoring at a global scale, but applicability to reptiles has been restricted because of their presumed low shedding rate. Consequently, eDNA may have considerable limitations as a biomonitoring tool in Australia where 40% of the terrestrial vertebrates are reptiles. However, there is a need to evaluate if method improvements, such as targeting certain substrates, improve the ability to detect reptile eDNA. The Pilbara olive python (Liasis olivaceus barroni) is an uncommon and elusive Australian top predator with a high conservation priority. Like many other snake species, Pilbara olive pythons are challenging to monitor with traditional survey methods; therefore, exploring an eDNA-based approach is highly relevant. The pythons are known to occasionally reside in rock pools. Thus, the development of a reliable eDNA-based approach to detect the pythons in water would provide a needed alternative method. Here, we use a previously developed metabarcoding assay targeting reptiles, to sequence a total of 228 water samples collected from 40 rock pools and drainage pools from six broad locations across the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and we confirm the presence of Pilbara olive python eDNA in 37 samples from 12 of those pools at three of the six broad sampling locations. Other vertebrate taxa, including other reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds, were also detected. Our documented ability to detect Pilbara olive python eDNA from rock pool water samples represents an important step toward eDNA-based precision monitoring of this species.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer1187545
TidsskriftFrontiers in Environmental Science
Vol/bind11
Antal sider8
ISSN2296-665X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
MM-D and NW are supported by the BHP Social Investment Fund, eDNA for Global Biodiversity (eDGES) programme in projects managed by MA. This work was supported by resources provided by the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre with funding from the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia. We thank Shane Herbert for facilitating collation and use of the data. We also thank those who assisted in sample collection: Chris Knuckey, Andrew Hide, and Ashleigh Kimpton of Biologic Environmental Survey. Field sampling and sample collection were supported by Tanya Carroll and Alice Taysom of BHP Western Australia Iron Ore.

Funding Information:
MM-D and NW are supported by the BHP Social Investment Fund, eDNA for Global Biodiversity (eDGES) programme in projects managed by MA. This work was supported by resources provided by the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre with funding from the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia. We thank Shane Herbert for facilitating collation and use of the data. We also thank those who assisted in sample collection: Chris Knuckey, Andrew Hide, and Ashleigh Kimpton of Biologic Environmental Survey. Field sampling and sample collection were supported by Tanya Carroll and Alice Taysom of BHP Western Australia Iron Ore.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Mousavi-Derazmahalleh, Ellis, D’Rozario, Berry, Peverley, Dawkins, Campbell, White and Allentoft.

ID: 358091603