eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-TMI-CON-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

353 count
Range: 353 to 353 count
Optimal Range: 353 to 353
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

Proposed Benchmark Value: 353 fish ASVs.

Metric Definition:

Fish Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) detected by eDNA metabarcoding as a measure of fish biodiversity.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the total fish ASVs detected in a globally significant no-take Marine Protected Area, serving as a high-health tropical reef ecosystem proxy relevant to Australian marine parks in the same biome.

Justification:

This value originates from a large, well-managed, no-take MPA that serves as a global exemplar of a healthy and resilient tropical reef ecosystem, making it a suitable aspirational target for Australian marine parks in the same biome.

Sources (2)

Preview of Environmental DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring of a highly-diverse tropical fish community in a coral-reef lagoon: - bioRxiv, accessed August 4, 2025
Environmental DNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring of a highly-diverse tropical fish community in a coral-reef lagoon: - bioRxiv, accessed August 4, 2025

Elasmobranch diversity across a remote coral reef atoll revealed ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for ..., accessed August 4, 2025
New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for ..., accessed August 4, 2025 Journal

New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Supporting Sources (20)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Navigating the Murky Waters: Variation in Low Abundance Sequence Filtration in Fish eDNA Metabarcoding - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
(PDF) Navigating the Murky Waters: Variation in Low Abundance Sequence Filtration in Fish eDNA Metabarcoding - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Environmental DNA metabarcoding for marine monitoring across ecological scales - the UWA Profiles and Research Repository - The University of Western Australia, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of A Confidence Scoring Procedure for eDNA Metabarcoding Records and Its Application to a Global Marine Fish Dataset - Archimer, accessed August 4, 2025
A Confidence Scoring Procedure for eDNA Metabarcoding Records and Its Application to a Global Marine Fish Dataset - Archimer, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Confidence Scoring Procedure for eDNA Metabarcoding Records and Its Application to a Global Marine Fish Dataset - Archimer, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Abstract – Environmental DNA for mapping biodiversity, detecting ..., accessed August 4, 2025
Abstract – Environmental DNA for mapping biodiversity, detecting ..., accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Abstract  Environmental DNA for mapping biodiversity, detecting ..., accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of An issue of life or death: using eDNA to detect viable individuals in wilderness restoration, accessed August 4, 2025
An issue of life or death: using eDNA to detect viable individuals in wilderness restoration, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

An issue of life or death: using eDNA to detect viable individuals in wilderness restoration, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA Frontiers Is Demystifying Earth's Environmental Biodiversity Through NGS - Illumina, accessed August 4, 2025
eDNA Frontiers Is Demystifying Earth's Environmental Biodiversity Through NGS - Illumina, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

eDNA Frontiers Is Demystifying Earth's Environmental Biodiversity Through NGS - Illumina, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool for marine protected areas - bioRxiv, accessed August 4, 2025
eDNA metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool for marine protected areas - bioRxiv, accessed August 4, 2025
Direct Evidence

eDNA metabarcoding as a biomonitoring tool for marine protected areas - bioRxiv, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish - MDPI, accessed August 4, 2025
eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish - MDPI, accessed August 4, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish - MDPI, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish, accessed August 4, 2025
eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

eDNA Metabarcoding Reveals the Depth-Structured Variation of Coral Reef Fish, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of eDNA: Review of applicability for monitoring and detecting biotic populations of the Murray-Darling Basin - Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, accessed July 22, 2025,
eDNA: Review of applicability for monitoring and detecting biotic populations of the Murray-Darling Basin - Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, accessed July 22, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Marine environmental DNA biomonitoring reveals seasonal patterns in biodiversity and identifies ecosystem responses to anomalous climatic events, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effect of environmental DNA sampling resolution in detecting nearshore fish biodiversity compared to capture surveys - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025
Effect of environmental DNA sampling resolution in detecting nearshore fish biodiversity compared to capture surveys - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support

Effect of environmental DNA sampling resolution in detecting nearshore fish biodiversity compared to capture surveys - PubMed Central, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Effect of environmental DNA sampling resolution in detecting nearshore fish biodiversity compared to capture surveys | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
Effect of environmental DNA sampling resolution in detecting nearshore fish biodiversity compared to capture surveys | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Environmental DNA (eDNA): A review of ecosystem biodiversity detection and applications - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring marine mammals: Challenges and opportunities - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring marine mammals: Challenges and opportunities - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring marine mammals: Challenges and opportunities - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA detects biodiversity and ecological features of phytoplankton communities in Mediterranean transitional waters - PMC, accessed August 4, 2025
Environmental DNA detects biodiversity and ecological features of phytoplankton communities in Mediterranean transitional waters - PMC, accessed August 4, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Environmental DNA detects biodiversity and ecological features of phytoplankton communities in Mediterranean transitional waters - PMC, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA metabarcoding describes biodiversity across marine gradients - Oxford Academic, accessed August 4, 2025
Environmental DNA metabarcoding describes biodiversity across marine gradients - Oxford Academic, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental DNA (eDNA): A Powerful Tool for Exploring Marine Ecosystems, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of FEATURE ARTICLE - Environmental DNA (eDNA) for the management of marine living resources - ICES, accessed August 4, 2025
FEATURE ARTICLE - Environmental DNA (eDNA) for the management of marine living resources - ICES, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Government

FEATURE ARTICLE - Environmental DNA (eDNA) for the management of marine living resources - ICES, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Fish community surveys in eelgrass beds using both eDNA metabarcoding and seining: implications for biodiversity monitoring in the coastal zone - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 4, 2025
Fish community surveys in eelgrass beds using both eDNA metabarcoding and seining: implications for biodiversity monitoring in the coastal zone - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Fish community surveys in eelgrass beds using both eDNA metabarcoding and seining: implications for biodiversity monitoring in the coastal zone - Canadian Science Publishing, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for understanding life in our oceans, accessed August 4, 2025
New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for understanding life in our oceans, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support Government

New environmental DNA (eDNA) data a game-changer for understanding life in our oceans, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The Role of Environmental DNA (EDNA) in Biodiversity Conservation - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
The Role of Environmental DNA (EDNA) in Biodiversity Conservation - ResearchGate, accessed August 4, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Unlocking the Power of eDNA for Marine Conservation | Ocean Molecular Ecology, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Utility of environmental DNA for monitoring rare and indicator macroinvertebrate species | Freshwater Science: Vol 33, No 4
Utility of environmental DNA for monitoring rare and indicator macroinvertebrate species | Freshwater Science: Vol 33, No 4
Contextual Support Government

Using Environmental DNA to manage biodiversity risks, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Utilizing the state of environmental DNA (eDNA) to incorporate time-scale information into eDNA analysis - Journals, accessed August 4, 2025
Utilizing the state of environmental DNA (eDNA) to incorporate time-scale information into eDNA analysis - Journals, accessed August 4, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Utilizing the state of environmental DNA (eDNA) to incorporate time-scale information into eDNA analysis - Journals, accessed August 4, 2025,

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. Confidence is 'Moderate' as the site is an international proxy, not directly within Australia, though it is highly relevant to the biome. The functional range is defined by community composition, not solely richness.