eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-AKW-LVG-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 20 to 22 presence/absence
Optimal Range: 20 to 22
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is CompositeFramework, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

CompositeFramework Primary OptimalRange Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: Detection of 40-45 invertebrate families across 20-22 orders.

Metric Definition:

Detection of invertebrate taxonomic groups (Orders and Families) via eDNA metabarcoding from water samples in arid ephemeral aquatic refugia.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the detection of a high diversity of invertebrate orders and families via eDNA metabarcoding, indicating a healthy aquatic ecosystem in arid ephemeral rock-holes within the arid karstic woodlands and shrublands biome under livestock grazing and pasture land use.

Justification:

Derived from a high-health analogue study at a destocked, conservation-managed ex-pastoral property (Hedges et al., 2024) representing the best available condition achievable under sustainable grazing.

Sources (1)

Preview of Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies
Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies GreyLiterature

Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies

View Source

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
(PDF) Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse? - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
(PDF) Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse? - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Is the Australian subterranean fauna uniquely diverse? - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of 1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 25, 2025
1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

1 OVERVIEW ARTICLE Degraded or just dusty? Examining ecological change in arid lands J.L. SilcockA,B,D & R.J. FenshamA,C A C, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of biodiversity - Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 23, 2025,
biodiversity - Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Our natural environments - NSW National Parks, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of developments in subterranean biodiversity in ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 25, 2025
developments in subterranean biodiversity in ... - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

Pilbarana , a new subterranean amphipod genus (Hadzioidea: Eriopisidae) of environmental assessment importance from the Pilbara, Western Australia | Zootaxa - Magnolia Press, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from a space-for-time study in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Ludwig, J.A., Bastin, G.N., Chewings, V.H., Eager, R.W., and Liedloff, A.C. (2005). Clearing savannas for use as rangelands in Queensland: Altered landscapes and water-erosion processes. Rangeland Journal, 27(2), 135-149.

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem structure, function and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Ecosystem structure, function and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Ecosystem structure, function and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - CORE, accessed July 25, 2025
Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - CORE, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing - CORE, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025
eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

www.csiro.au

View Source
Preview of EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025
EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - bioRxiv
Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - bioRxiv
Direct Evidence

Artificial Waterbodies: A Valuable Source of eDNA for Detecting Threatened Birds - PMC

View Source
Preview of Extraordinary concentrations of local endemism associated with arid-land springs, accessed July 25, 2025
Extraordinary concentrations of local endemism associated with arid-land springs, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Extraordinary concentrations of local endemism associated with arid-land springs, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor - DBCA Library
Nullarbor - DBCA Library
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor - DBCA Library, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor 1 (NUL1 – Nullarbor Northern Band subregion) - DBCA Library

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band subregion) - DBCA Library, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band subregion) - DBCA Library, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor 2 (NUL2 – Nullarbor Central Band subregion) - DBCA Library, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 27, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor bioregion - DCCEEW, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Regenerative agriculture across continents: same principles, different systems | .Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Grazing support programs | Environment, land and water - Queensland Government, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Research progress of eDNA technology in biodiversity monitoring - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Research progress of eDNA technology in biodiversity monitoring - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Research progress of eDNA technology in biodiversity monitoring - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025
Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Environmental DNA (eDNA) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

View Source
Preview of SA Arid Lands | From the Ground Up - Landscape South Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
SA Arid Lands | From the Ground Up - Landscape South Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Rangelands Living Skin - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 30, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Sustainable and profitable grazing management in a highly variable environment‐evidence and insights from a long term grazing trial in northern Australia - UKnowledge, accessed July 25, 2025
Sustainable and profitable grazing management in a highly variable environment‐evidence and insights from a long term grazing trial in northern Australia - UKnowledge, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support

July 2019 to June 2020 - Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan Action Report

View Source
Preview of The Great Australian Wildlife Search: Large-scale biodiversity assessments using eDNA metabarcoding and citizen scientists., accessed August 12, 2025
The Great Australian Wildlife Search: Large-scale biodiversity assessments using eDNA metabarcoding and citizen scientists., accessed August 12, 2025
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

What lies beneath the water? | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source
Preview of The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

The impact of camel visitation on native wildlife at remote waterholes in arid Australia, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia, accessed July 25, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

The impact of feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) on remote waterholes in central Australia

View Source
Preview of Time capsules of biodiversity: Future research directions for groundwater-dependent ecosystems of the Great Artesian Basin - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025
Time capsules of biodiversity: Future research directions for groundwater-dependent ecosystems of the Great Artesian Basin - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Time capsules of biodiversity: Future research directions for groundwater-dependent ecosystems of the Great Artesian Basin - Frontiers, accessed July 25, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Using traits of species to understand responses to land use change: Birds and livestock grazing in the Australian arid zone | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Using traits of species to understand responses to land use change: Birds and livestock grazing in the Australian arid zone | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 25, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Monitoring ecological indicators of rangeland functional integrity and their relation to biodiversity at local to regional scales - ResearchGate, accessed July 19, 2025

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 4 Jun 2026

Notes

The benchmark reflects a multi-dimensional assessment of richness, composition, and dynamics. There is no upper detrimental numerical threshold; instead, compositional imbalance (e.g., invasive species dominance or eutrophication) signals degradation.