Ms Lara Denis-Roy1,2, Dr Scott Ling1, Dr Lev Bedrossy2, Dr Sharon Appleyard2, Professor Graham Edgar1
1Institute of Marine And Antarctic Studies, Hobart, Australia, 2Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, Australia
Research and interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) are exploding, including as a tool to monitor and inform management of marine communities. However, a gap exists in cross validation with traditional methods for the detection of potential effects by natural and pollutant factors. The anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems rising, it becomes vital to be able to monitor local ecosystems and their response to anthropogenic drivers. New South Wales and Tasmania have a legacy of pollution around their major cities but also possess pristine locations, allowing for a gradient of pollutants as well as natural environmental factors. The present study investigates communities identified through three eDNA metabarcoding assays: 18S, 16S and CO1 as well as under microscope identification of Van Veen Grab and algal samples, and Underwater Visual Surveys (UVS). Using a suite of environmental and pollutant variables, we studied the sensibility of the eDNA method and compared it to ’traditional methods’: direct fauna sampling and UVS, specifically in the detection of potential impacts of pollutants. Potential environmental drivers (natural and pollutants) are identified using DISTLM (Distance Based Linear Models). Environmental genetics appear reliable to detect changes in assemblages across natural and pollutant gradients. Additionally, the COI metabarcoding assays showed more sensitivity than infauna sampling in the detection of potential pollutant impacts. The sensitivity to potential pollutant impacts, among several advantages, helps further establish eDNA as a valuable biomonitoring tool allowing whole communities studies and assessments.
Presentation Slides – Lara Denis-Roy
Biography:
From France, BSc at the University of Montpellier (France) on the Ecology and Biology of Organisms. MSc on Marine Environment and Resources (Erasmus Mundus MSc: University of Bordeaux, Liege, UPV/EHU and Southampton). Currently a PhD candidate at IMAS working on the use of environmental DNA to investigate shallow reefs around Australia from comparing it to other methods, the investigation of diel changes in reef and the detection of biogeographic breaks.
