Development of a DNA reference library for marine pest species

A/Prof. Craig Sherman1, Dr Justin McDonald2, Dr Dave Abdo2, Dr Adam Miller1

1Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Australia, 2Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Hillarys, Australia

Abstract:

Environmental DNA has revolutionised many areas of environmental research and is set to be widely adopted for a range of biodiversity monitoring and surveillance applications. Metabarcoding of eDNA samples is now routinely used for community-based assessments, however, its use as a biosecurity surveillance tool is limited by the lack of reference DNA sequences. Species level resolution of metabarcoding data is essential to ensure that new pests are readily identified during routine surveillance, and that non-native sequences can be reliably distinguished from closely related native taxa. Here we report on the development of a mitogenome reference library for a range of marine pests of relevance to Australia and the broader Oceania region. We highlight the need for the use of taxonomically verified samples to provide a high level of confidence when developing reference DNA libraries. This valuable resource will help improve the application of eDNA approaches for marine pest surveillance in Australia, and aid in the development of species-specific diagnostic assays for more targeted surveillance applications.


Biography:

Craig Sherman is a marine ecologist and one of the group leaders of the EcoGenetics Lab based at Deakin University. Craig and his team use a combination of ecological and molecular approaches to address fundamental and applied questions in the fields of marine biosecurity, ecological restoration and ecosystem resilience. Craig is a collaborative researcher working with academics, industry and government agencies to find management solutions to complex environmental issues facing coastal and marine ecosystems.

Date

Mar 21 - 23 2022
Expired!