eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-AMR-LVG-DNA General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

36 count
Direction: Higher is desirable ↑
Form: Point

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

The key finding of this study was the detection of 36 vertebrate taxa from water samples, a figure which included 34 families, 19 orders, and 5 distinct classes of vertebrates (e.g., mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish).8

Metric Definition:

Number of vertebrate taxa detected by eDNA metabarcoding from water samples in arid zone waterholes.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the highest vertebrate biodiversity detected by eDNA in water samples from arid mountain ranges and uplands in Australia under livestock grazing, reflecting a conservation target for ecological health.

Justification:

This benchmark is based on the Furlan et al. (2020) study conducted in low-impact arid zone waterholes, representing a high-integrity ecological state relevant to the target biome and land use.

Sources (1)

Preview of Identifying error and accurately interpreting eDNA metabarcoding ...
Identifying error and accurately interpreting eDNA metabarcoding ... GreyLiterature

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Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 90-years of open-data track change in rangeland ecosystem | TERN Australia, accessed July 29, 2025,
90-years of open-data track change in rangeland ecosystem | TERN Australia, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

90-years of open-data track change in rangeland ecosystem | TERN Australia, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Applying two remotely-sensed methods for monitoring grazing impacts in the Australian arid zone, accessed July 29, 2025,
Applying two remotely-sensed methods for monitoring grazing impacts in the Australian arid zone, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Applying two remotely-sensed methods for monitoring grazing impacts in the Australian arid zone, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Arid-zone wildlife ecology and conservation - RIEL - Charles Darwin University, accessed July 29, 2025,
Arid-zone wildlife ecology and conservation - RIEL - Charles Darwin University, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support

Arid-zone wildlife ecology and conservation - RIEL - Charles Darwin University, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Australian's Rangelands 2008 - At a glance - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,
Australian's Rangelands 2008 - At a glance - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Australian's Rangelands 2008 - At a glance - DCCEEW, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support

The effect of climate change on pastoralism in the Australian arid and semi-arid rangelands - Nuffield Farming Scholarships, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed July 29, 2025,
Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support

Do regenerative grazing management practices improve vegetation and soil health in grazed rangelands? Preliminary insights from, accessed July 29, 2025,

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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
Contextual Support Government

eDNA biomonitoring – Towards a new generation of ecological assessment tools for managing coastal environments - CSIRO Research

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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

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Preview of eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed July 29, 2025,
eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Environmental DNA as a management tool for tracking artificial waterhole use in savanna ecosystems | bioRxiv, accessed July 29, 2025,
Environmental DNA as a management tool for tracking artificial waterhole use in savanna ecosystems | bioRxiv, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support

A review of applications of environmental DNA for reptile conservation and management - PMC - PubMed Central, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 29, 2025,
Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing management of Australian native woody regeneration as an effective nature-based climate-change solution - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia - Western Australian Museum
Herpetological assemblages of the Pilbara biogeographic region, Western Australia - Western Australian Museum
Contextual Support

Investigating factors that drive avian occurrence and assemblage structure at central Australian waterholes, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Influence and value of different water regimes on avian ...
Influence and value of different water regimes on avian ...
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Influence and value of different water regimes on avian ..., accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed August 5, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025,
Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Livestock grazing management and biodiversity conservation in Australian temperate grassy landscapes - ResearchGate, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Measure it to better manage it: A biodiversity monitoring framework for the Australian rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Measure it to better manage it: A biodiversity monitoring framework for the Australian rangelands - ResearchGate, accessed July 18, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Arid Zone Monitoring, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Queensland launches coordinated feral cat management in Channel Country, accessed July 29, 2025,
Queensland launches coordinated feral cat management in Channel Country, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Queensland launches coordinated feral cat management in Channel Country, accessed July 29, 2025,

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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

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

Rock pools as a source of environmental DNA for the ... - Frontiers, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 15, 2025
Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Shifts in floristic composition and structure in Australian rangelands | PLOS One, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Soil microbiome and biodiversity implications – are we ignoring cost-effective proxies of biodiversity measures? | TERN Australia, accessed on June 7, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Environment Monitoring Systems & Data for Ecosystem Studies ...

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Preview of Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates ...
Spider webs capture environmental DNA from terrestrial vertebrates ...
Contextual Support Journal

eDNA techniques detect the elusive Pilbara olive python - Biologic Environmental, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of THE POTENTIAL FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE ARID ZONE - Livestock Library, accessed July 29, 2025,
THE POTENTIAL FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE ARID ZONE - Livestock Library, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

THE POTENTIAL FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN THE ARID ZONE - Livestock Library, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Threats to water quality - Government of Western Australia
Threats to water quality - Government of Western Australia
Contextual Support Journal

The State and Future of the Northern Territory's ... - NationBuilder

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Preview of Towards a sustainable future - Rangelands Dialogues, accessed July 29, 2025,
Towards a sustainable future - Rangelands Dialogues, accessed July 29, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Towards a sustainable future - Rangelands Dialogues, accessed July 29, 2025,

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Preview of Turning to eDNA to track endangered species in East Australia - Illumina, accessed July 11, 2025,
Turning to eDNA to track endangered species in East Australia - Illumina, accessed July 11, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

A comprehensive evaluation of taxonomic classifiers in marine ...

View Source
Preview of Where the wild things are: a new approach for detecting freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates using environmental DNA (Furlan et al., 2020)
Where the wild things are: a new approach for detecting freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates using environmental DNA (Furlan et al., 2020)
Direct Evidence

Biodiversity | Australia state of the environment 2021

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation. The benchmark is aspirational and reflects the maximum vertebrate richness observed in a low-impact, ecologically healthy arid system.