eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-TMS-CON-DNA General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

453 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 Point, 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

Point Primary Point Guard Point Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The reference value of 453 vertebrate taxa represents the cumulative biodiversity detected across the entire network of 71 sites studied by West et al.

Metric Definition:

Total vertebrate taxa detected by eDNA metabarcoding in a large-scale, methodologically robust survey across a network of 71 nearshore, estuarine, and marine sites in the Kimberley region.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available natural condition of vertebrate biodiversity detected by eDNA in the Tropical Monsoonal Savanna biome under conservation land use, based on a large-scale survey in the Kimberley region.

Justification:

Derived from a large-scale, multi-marker eDNA metabarcoding survey covering 71 sites over 700 km in the Kimberley region, representing a high biodiversity and healthy ecosystem network.

Sources (1)

Preview of Large-scale eDNA metabarcoding survey reveals marine biogeographic break and transitions over tropical north-western Australia
Large-scale eDNA metabarcoding survey reveals marine biogeographic break and transitions over tropical north-western Australia Journal

Large-scale eDNA metabarcoding survey reveals marine biogeographic break and transitions over tropical north-western Australia

View Source

Supporting Sources (17)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Development of a 16S metabarcoding assay for the environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of aquatic reptiles across northern Australia - ResearchGate
(PDF) Development of a 16S metabarcoding assay for the environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of aquatic reptiles across northern Australia - ResearchGate
Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Development of a 16S metabarcoding assay for the environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of aquatic reptiles across northern Australia - ResearchGate

View Source
Preview of Anglo American: eDNA trial supports biodiversity assessment in the Fitzroy
Anglo American: eDNA trial supports biodiversity assessment in the Fitzroy
Contextual Support Journal

Anglo American: eDNA trial supports biodiversity assessment in the Fitzroy

View Source
Preview of Aquatic environmental DNA: A review of the macro-organismal biomonitoring revolution
Aquatic environmental DNA: A review of the macro-organismal biomonitoring revolution
Methodology Source Journal

Aquatic environmental DNA: A review of the macro-organismal biomonitoring revolution

View Source
Preview of Artificial Waterbodies: A Valuable Source of eDNA for Detecting Threatened Birds - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025,
Artificial Waterbodies: A Valuable Source of eDNA for Detecting Threatened Birds - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental DNA from semi-arid artificial waterbodies: A breakthrough in monitoring a nationally threatened ground-nesting bird. - eDNA Conference, accessed July 19, 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

www.csiro.au

View Source
Preview of eDNA results from the Great Australian Wildlife Search | Murray ...
eDNA results from the Great Australian Wildlife Search | Murray ...
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

eDNA results from the Great Australian Wildlife Search | Murray ...

View Source
Preview of Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia
Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia
Contextual Support

(PDF) Development of a 16S metabarcoding assay for the environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of aquatic reptiles across northern Australia - ResearchGate

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

Artificial Waterbodies: A Valuable Source of eDNA for Detecting ..., accessed July 19, 2025

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
Methodology Source 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 Invasive terrestrial invertebrate detection in water and soil using a targeted eDNA approach
Invasive terrestrial invertebrate detection in water and soil using a targeted eDNA approach
Contextual Support

Australia's forests - Australian forest profiles, accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...
Managing for biodiversity: impact and action thresholds for invasive ...
Contextual Support Journal

Research and prospects of environmental DNA (eDNA) for detection of invasive aquatic species in East Asia - Frontiers

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Preview of NatureMetrics Raises Funding with Environmental DNA Tech - Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), accessed August 12, 2025
NatureMetrics Raises Funding with Environmental DNA Tech - Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

4 ways eDNA reduces invasive species risk - Nature Metrics

View Source
Preview of Read counts from environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reflect fish abundance and biomass in drained ponds
Read counts from environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reflect fish abundance and biomass in drained ponds
Contextual Support Journal

Read counts from environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding reflect fish abundance and biomass in drained ponds

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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

View Source
Preview of Target Species Detection | Threatened & Invasive | EnviroDNA
Target Species Detection | Threatened & Invasive | EnviroDNA
Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Target Species Detection | Threatened & Invasive | EnviroDNA

View Source
Preview of Top End NT - NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub
Top End NT - NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub
Contextual Support Government

Top End NT - NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub

View Source
Preview of Validation of Environmental DNA for Estimating Proportional and Absolute Biomass - the NOAA Institutional Repository
Validation of Environmental DNA for Estimating Proportional and Absolute Biomass - the NOAA Institutional Repository
Contextual Support Journal

CSIRO Biodiversity - DBCA Library

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • 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 an aspirational system-scale target for protected area networks, with a qualitative lower critical threshold defined by functional absence of key native taxa and an upper detrimental threshold defined by invasive species proportion >5-10%.