eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-TSR-FOR-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 297 to 492 count
Thresholds: Lower: 297, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 297 to 492
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context.

Evidence & Context

Reference Value: 492+ detected taxa (comprising 155+ plant, 61+ vertebrate, and 276+ insect taxa)

Metric Definition:

Number of taxa detected by water-based eDNA metabarcoding representing biodiversity in tropical rainforest production forestry systems.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the number of taxa detected by water-based eDNA metabarcoding in tropical rainforest production forestry, serving as a high-integrity aspirational target for biodiversity in old-growth forest ecosystems.

Justification:

This benchmark is based on a robust, peer-reviewed (preprint) study from a highly analogous Amazonian tropical rainforest, which is the best available proxy. No direct Australian study was found.

Sources (1)

Preview of Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through ... - bioRxiv
Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through ... - bioRxiv

Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through environmental DNA contained in rainwater | bioRxiv, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (22)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A Conceptual Model for Forest Naturalness Assessment and Application in Quebec's Boreal Forest - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,
A Conceptual Model for Forest Naturalness Assessment and Application in Quebec's Boreal Forest - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A Conceptual Model for Forest Naturalness Assessment and Application in Quebec's Boreal Forest - MDPI, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of A pilot study using eDNA collected from soil and active air samplers to detect terrestrial vertebrates in an open grassland habitat of central Queensland, Australia - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,
A pilot study using eDNA collected from soil and active air samplers to detect terrestrial vertebrates in an open grassland habitat of central Queensland, Australia - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

A pilot study using eDNA collected from soil and active air samplers to detect terrestrial vertebrates in an open grassland habitat of central Queensland, Australia - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of ABARES report on the importance of Australia's native forests and wood production, accessed July 20, 2025,
ABARES report on the importance of Australia's native forests and wood production, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

ABARES report on the importance of Australia's native forests and wood production, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in agricultural systems: Current uses, limitations and future prospects, accessed July 20, 2025,
Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in agricultural systems: Current uses, limitations and future prospects, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) in agricultural systems: Current uses, limitations and future prospects, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Assessing the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for measuring microbial biodiversity within forest ecosystems - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,
Assessing the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for measuring microbial biodiversity within forest ecosystems - PMC, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

EDNA Forest Biomonitoring → Term, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia | Natural History of Ecological Restoration - WordPress.com, accessed July 20, 2025,
Australia | Natural History of Ecological Restoration - WordPress.com, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

eDNA metabarcoding: an effective tool for vertebrate diversity studies in the Colombian Amazon and Orinoco basins - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed August 10, 2025,
Contextual Support

Criterion 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources - DAFF, accessed May 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025,
Australia's State of the Forests Report - DAFF, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

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

View Source
Preview of Conservation Finance Handbook, accessed July 20, 2025,
Conservation Finance Handbook, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support

Conservation Finance Handbook, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Conservation: Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Conservation: Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Conservation: Rainforest fragmentation kills big trees - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA as a tool for identifying freshwater species in sustainable ...
eDNA as a tool for identifying freshwater species in sustainable ...
Contextual Support Journal

Utility of environmental DNA for monitoring rare and indicator macroinvertebrate species | Freshwater Science: Vol 33, No 4, accessed July 20, 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

eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO

View Source
Preview of eDNA guidelines – Environomics Future Science Platform - CSIRO Research
eDNA guidelines – Environomics Future Science Platform - CSIRO Research
Methodology Source Government

Categories - environmental DNA - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source
Preview of eDNA methods for tropical waters - Northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 11, 2025,
eDNA methods for tropical waters - Northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 11, 2025,
Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia

View Source
Preview of eDNA offers opportunities for improved biodiversity monitoring within forest carbon markets
eDNA offers opportunities for improved biodiversity monitoring within forest carbon markets
Contextual Support

eDNA as a tool for identifying freshwater species in sustainable ..., accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA offers opportunities for improved biodiversity monitoring within forest carbon markets, accessed July 20, 2025,
eDNA offers opportunities for improved biodiversity monitoring within forest carbon markets, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

eDNA offers opportunities for improved biodiversity monitoring within forest carbon markets, accessed July 20, 2025,

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

Guidance on the use of ecosystem receptor indicators for the assessment of water and sediment quality, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Evaluating a multigene environmental DNA approach for biodiversity assessment | GigaScience | Oxford Academic, accessed July 20, 2025,
Evaluating a multigene environmental DNA approach for biodiversity assessment | GigaScience | Oxford Academic, accessed July 20, 2025,
Methodology Source Journal

Evaluating a multigene environmental DNA approach for biodiversity assessment | GigaScience | Oxford Academic, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO
Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO
Contextual Support Government

Is it worth the extra mile? Comparing environmental DNA and RNA metabarcoding for vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity surveys in a lowland stream - PubMed Central

View Source
Preview of Rock pools as a source of environmental DNA for the ... - Frontiers
Rock pools as a source of environmental DNA for the ... - Frontiers
Contextual Support Journal

A manager's guide to using eDNA metabarcoding in marine ...

View Source
Preview of Understanding 48 years of changes in tree diversity, dynamics and species responses since logging disturbance in a subtropical rainforest | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Understanding 48 years of changes in tree diversity, dynamics and species responses since logging disturbance in a subtropical rainforest | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support

Understanding 48 years of changes in tree diversity, dynamics and species responses since logging disturbance in a subtropical rainforest | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Volume 68 Issue 6 | Australian Journal of Zoology - BioOne Complete, accessed July 20, 2025,
Volume 68 Issue 6 | Australian Journal of Zoology - BioOne Complete, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Volume 68 Issue 6 | Australian Journal of Zoology - BioOne Complete, accessed July 20, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Production Forestry
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 23 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 297 count. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The value represents biodiversity detected in an old-growth forest, serving as a best-practice target.