eDNA Biodiversity Detection
Benchmark Value
Scoring Curve
This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 2 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 1 guard(s) constrain the result.
Contributing Benchmarks
Evidence & Context
The proposed reference value is >60 detected vertebrate species, based on a multi-taxa eDNA metabarcoding study of farm dams and waterways in West Gippsland, Victoria.
Detected Vertebrate Species (Taxonomic Richness) from water eDNA metabarcoding
This benchmark represents the minimum number of vertebrate species detected using eDNA metabarcoding in agricultural water bodies within temperate dry woodlands and native grasslands in Australia.
The confidence level is rated as Moderate following a careful weighing of the source's strengths and weaknesses. It is not 'High' for two primary reasons: first, the source is a conference abstract, which lacks the full methodological detail and peer-review rigor of a published journal article. Second, while the samples were from agricultural landscapes, the specific management practices of the 16 participating farms were not documented as conforming to a strict definition of "best-practice regenerative cropping." However, the confidence is elevated from 'Low' to 'Moderate' because the study represents the most contextually relevant, real-world, multi-taxa eDNA dataset currently available.
Sources (1)
Innovative eDNA citizen science for biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes
View SourceSupporting Sources (1)
Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.
The Impacts of Land Use Change on Biodiversity in Australia - ResearchGate
View Source