eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-AMR-CON-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

45 count
Range: 45 to — count
Thresholds: Lower: 20, Upper: —
Optimal Range: 45 to —
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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 3 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 2 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The study successfully detected invertebrates belonging to 45 distinct families, which were nested within 22 different orders.

Metric Definition:

Number of invertebrate families detected via eDNA metabarcoding (COI + 16S rRNA assays)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the number of invertebrate families detected via eDNA metabarcoding in a conservation area within the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome, indicating a robust and informative taxonomic resolution for biodiversity assessment.

Justification:

The benchmark is derived from a well-managed conservation area in the Gawler Ranges, representing the best available condition for this indicator. The value is conservative due to limitations in reference libraries and the nascent state of the field.

Sources (1)

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 GreyLiterature

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (30)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Macquarie University
A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Macquarie University
Contextual Support Journal

A fresh framework for the ecology of arid Australia - Macquarie University

View Source
Preview of A muddy time capsule: using sediment environmental DNA for the long-term monitoring of coastal vegetated ecosystems - CSIRO Publishing
A muddy time capsule: using sediment environmental DNA for the long-term monitoring of coastal vegetated ecosystems - CSIRO Publishing
Methodology Source Journal

Emerging use of air eDNA and its application to forensic investigations – A review

View Source
Preview of Australia - Land, Climate, People | Britannica, accessed July 27, 2025,
Australia - Land, Climate, People | Britannica, accessed July 27, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Australia - Land, Climate, People - Britannica

View Source
Preview of Australia's protected areas - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Australia's protected areas - DCCEEW, accessed August 4, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Environmental Indicators for National State of the Environment Reporting: The Land

View Source
Preview of Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025
Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 2, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Loss of terrestrial biodiversity in Australia: Magnitude, causation, and response - Charles Darwin University

View Source
Preview of Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia
Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Boom and bust for biodiversity in arid Australia

View Source
Preview of Ecological Health Index: A Short Term Monitoring Method for Land Managers to Assess Grazing Lands Ecological Health - MDPI
Ecological Health Index: A Short Term Monitoring Method for Land Managers to Assess Grazing Lands Ecological Health - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

Ecological Health Index: A Short Term Monitoring Method for Land Managers to Assess Grazing Lands Ecological Health - MDPI

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem collapse - Wikipedia
Ecosystem collapse - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Ecosystem collapse - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Ecosystem services: Key concepts and applications, accessed July 23, 2025,
Ecosystem services: Key concepts and applications, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - Convention on Biological Diversity

View Source
Preview of eDNA biomonitoring – Towards a new generation of ecological assessment tools for managing coastal environments - CSIRO Research, accessed August 10, 2025
eDNA biomonitoring – Towards a new generation of ecological assessment tools for managing coastal environments - CSIRO Research, accessed August 10, 2025
Methodology Source Government

eDNA methods for tropical waters - Northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub

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 Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,
Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed July 21, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reveals strong discrimination among diverse marine habitats connected by water movement - PubMed
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reveals strong discrimination among diverse marine habitats connected by water movement - PubMed
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reveals strong discrimination among diverse marine habitats connected by water movement - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Evaluating the utility of environmental DNA for detecting a large Critically Endangered lizard in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology
Evaluating the utility of environmental DNA for detecting a large Critically Endangered lizard in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology
Contextual Support Journal

Detection of vertebrates from natural and artificial inland water bodies in a semi-arid habitat using eDNA from filtered, swept, and sediment samples - PubMed

View Source
Preview of Evaluating the utility of environmental DNA for detecting a large Critically Endangered lizard in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology
Evaluating the utility of environmental DNA for detecting a large Critically Endangered lizard in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Evaluating the utility of environmental DNA for detecting a large Critically Endangered lizard in tropical northern Australia - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Pacific Conservation Biology

View Source
Preview of Evolutionary refugia and ecological refuges: key concepts for conserving Australian arid zone freshwater biodiversity under climate change - PMC - PubMed Central
Evolutionary refugia and ecological refuges: key concepts for conserving Australian arid zone freshwater biodiversity under climate change - PMC - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Government

Greater Blue Mountains Area - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

View Source
Preview of Flinders Ranges - Wikipedia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Flinders Ranges - Wikipedia, accessed August 2, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Geol ogy ofth e Flin ders Rang es Nati onal Park

View Source
Preview of Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate - Macquarie University
Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate - Macquarie University
Contextual Support Journal

Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate - Macquarie University

View Source
Preview of Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate - Macquarie University, accessed August 4, 2025
Functional diversity of the Australian flora: strong links to species richness and climate - Macquarie University, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support

Science Applied 2

View Source
Preview of Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia
Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Dividing Range - Wikipedia, accessed July 28, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source
Preview of Impacts of environmental filters on functional redundancy in riparian vegetation
Impacts of environmental filters on functional redundancy in riparian vegetation
Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of environmental filters on functional redundancy in riparian vegetation

View Source
Preview of Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals
Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals
Contextual Support Journal

Inferring Resilience to Fragmentation-Induced Changes in Plant Communities in a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Ecosystem | PLOS One - Research journals

View Source
Preview of Is it worth the extra mile? Comparing environmental DNA and RNA metabarcoding for vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity surveys in a lowland stream - PubMed Central
Is it worth the extra mile? Comparing environmental DNA and RNA metabarcoding for vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity surveys in a lowland stream - PubMed Central
Contextual Support Journal

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 Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin
Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin
Contextual Support Government

Environmental DNA testing of regional waterways - Landscape SA

View Source
Preview of Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin
Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin
Contextual Support

Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin

View Source
Preview of Life in a freshwater rock pool: Use of eDNA to survey gnamma biodiversity | Global Water Forum
Life in a freshwater rock pool: Use of eDNA to survey gnamma biodiversity | Global Water Forum
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Life in a freshwater rock pool: Use of eDNA to survey gnamma biodiversity | Global Water Forum

View Source
Preview of Nilpena National Park Protection | Preserving Ediacara Fossils
Nilpena National Park Protection | Preserving Ediacara Fossils
Contextual Support Journal

Nilpena National Park Protection | Preserving Ediacara Fossils

View Source
Preview of State of the environment: shocking report shows how Australia's land and wildlife are being destroyed - The Guardian
State of the environment: shocking report shows how Australia's land and wildlife are being destroyed - The Guardian
Contextual Support

State of the environment: shocking report shows how Australia's land and wildlife are being destroyed - The Guardian

View Source
Preview of The Arid Zone Monitoring Project: combining Indigenous ecological expertise with scientific data analysis to assess the potential of using sign-based surveys to monitor vertebrates in the Australian deserts - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Wildlife Research
The Arid Zone Monitoring Project: combining Indigenous ecological expertise with scientific data analysis to assess the potential of using sign-based surveys to monitor vertebrates in the Australian deserts - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Wildlife Research
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

The Arid Zone Monitoring Project: combining Indigenous ecological expertise with scientific data analysis to assess the potential of using sign-based surveys to monitor vertebrates in the Australian deserts - CSIRO PUBLISHING | Wildlife Research

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 24 Mar 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: 20 count. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Optimal range is at or above 45 families, indicating high ecosystem health.