eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-TSR-FOR-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

492 count

Direction: Higher is desirable ↑

Form: MinimumOnly

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 6 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 5 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MinimumOnly Guard MinimumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The following benchmark is derived from the best available scientific proxy for a high-integrity state in the specified biome and land-use context.

Metric Definition:

Number of taxa detected from water-based eDNA metabarcoding encompassing plants, vertebrates, and insects

Benchmark Definition:

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

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 ... - bioRxiv

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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

Baselines for Soil Health and Stability in NSW RFA Regions

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,

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,

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,

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,

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

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

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

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,

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,

Preview of EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025

EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

EnviroDNA: eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Solutions

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,

Preview of Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO

Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO

Contextual Support Government

Perfect match: DNA library to help identify species - CSIRO

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

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

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,

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,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Production Forestry
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

The value represents biodiversity detected in an old-growth forest, serving as a high-integrity aspirational target for best-practice production forestry. No detrimental upper threshold for native biodiversity is supported by literature. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-FOR-DNA family.