eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-TSR-CON-DNA General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

7 presence/absence
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.

Evidence & Context

The key finding for the benchmark value is that across the four estuarine creek sites in the Cooktown region, the eDNA analysis consistently detected 7 reptile taxa.

Metric Definition:

Number of reptile taxa detected via eDNA metabarcoding from water samples.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the number of reptile taxa detected by eDNA metabarcoding in a high-integrity tropical rainforest catchment in Australia, serving as a proxy for biodiversity detection in protected natural areas.

Justification:

This value represents a repeatable, field-validated measurement from a peer-reviewed study in a relevant protected landscape, serving as the best available proxy benchmark.

Sources (1)

Preview of Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia
Environmental DNA (eDNA) in the ALA - Atlas of Living Australia

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

View Source

Supporting Sources (37)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

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(PDF) Environmental DNA provides greater insight to biodiversity and ecosystem function compared to traditional approaches, via spatio-temporal nestedness and turnover partitioning - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Environmental DNA provides greater insight to biodiversity and ecosystem function compared to traditional approaches, via spatio-temporal nestedness and turnover partitioning - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of (PDF) Long distance (>20 km) downstream detection of endangered stream frogs suggests an important role for eDNA in surveying for remnant amphibian populations - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
(PDF) Long distance (>20 km) downstream detection of endangered stream frogs suggests an important role for eDNA in surveying for remnant amphibian populations - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

(PDF) Long distance (>20 km) downstream detection of endangered stream frogs suggests an important role for eDNA in surveying for remnant amphibian populations - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of A Biodiversity Planning Assessment for the Wet Tropics Bioregion: Summary Report. Version 1.1. - Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025
A Biodiversity Planning Assessment for the Wet Tropics Bioregion: Summary Report. Version 1.1. - Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

A Biodiversity Planning Assessment for the Wet Tropics Bioregion: Summary Report. Version 1.1. - Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of A three-year, Australian-wide, environmental DNA (eDNA) study reveals spatial and temporal patterns in marine biodiversity - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
A three-year, Australian-wide, environmental DNA (eDNA) study reveals spatial and temporal patterns in marine biodiversity - CSIRO Research Publications Repository
Contextual Support Journal

TICI: a taxon-independent community index for eDNA-based ecological health assessment

View Source
Preview of Accumulation curves of environmental DNA sequences predict coastal fish diversity in the coral triangle | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences - Journals, accessed August 12, 2025
Accumulation curves of environmental DNA sequences predict coastal fish diversity in the coral triangle | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences - Journals, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

The National Biodiversity DNA Library – Environomics Future Science Platform, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Amphibian conservation action plan - IUCN Portals, accessed July 23, 2025
Amphibian conservation action plan - IUCN Portals, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Amphibian conservation action plan - IUCN Portals, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Annual Report 2022-2023 - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, accessed July 23, 2025
Annual Report 2022-2023 - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Annual Report 2022-2023

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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,

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Bridging the gap: The integration of eDNA techniques and ... - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Bridging the gap: The integration of eDNA techniques and ... - Frontiers, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Bridging the gap: The integration of eDNA techniques and traditional sampling in fish diversity analysis - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025
Bridging the gap: The integration of eDNA techniques and traditional sampling in fish diversity analysis - Frontiers, accessed August 10, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Beyond Detection – The Future of eDNA Research (Post-Event Summary)

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CSIRO Permanent Rainforest Plots of North Queensland, accessed July 20, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

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Ecology of Chytridiomycosis in Rainforest Stream Frog Assemblages of Tropical Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Ecology of Chytridiomycosis in Rainforest Stream Frog Assemblages of Tropical Queensland | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 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 confirms lower trophic interactions help to modulate population outbreaks of the notorious crown-of-thorns sea star | PNAS, accessed July 23, 2025
eDNA confirms lower trophic interactions help to modulate population outbreaks of the notorious crown-of-thorns sea star | PNAS, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

State of the Wet Tropics Report 2006 – 2007, accessed July 23, 2025

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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

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Preview of eDNA methods for tropical waters - Northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 23, 2025
eDNA methods for tropical waters - Northern Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

What is eDNA - JCU Australia, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of eDNA: Review of applicability for monitoring and detecting biotic populations of the Murray-Darling Basin - Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025
eDNA: Review of applicability for monitoring and detecting biotic populations of the Murray-Darling Basin - Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Correlated environmental DNA and electrofished estimates of relative biomass for golden perch, Macquaria ambigua - Frontiers, accessed July 20, 2025

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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

Integrating environmental DNA science into Australia's marine parks: a roadmap - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

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Preview of Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through ... - bioRxiv
Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through ... - bioRxiv
Contextual Support

Elusive tropical forest canopy diversity revealed through ... - bioRxiv

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Preview of Environmental Conditions Influence eDNA Persistence in Aquatic Systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
Environmental Conditions Influence eDNA Persistence in Aquatic Systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025
Methodology Source Journal

Environmental Conditions Influence eDNA Persistence in Aquatic Systems | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Environmental DNA (eDNA) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, accessed August 12, 2025
Environmental DNA (eDNA) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, accessed August 12, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review
Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review
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Preview of Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review, accessed July 23, 2025
Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support

Environmental DNA analysis as an emerging non-destructive method for plant biodiversity monitoring: a review, accessed July 23, 2025

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Evaluating eDNA and metabarcoding as biodiversity monitoring tools, accessed August 12, 2025
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Preview of Harmonizing Forest Conservation Policies with Essential ... - MDPI
Harmonizing Forest Conservation Policies with Essential ... - MDPI
Contextual Support Journal

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Preview of Long-distance Southern Ocean environmental DNA (eDNA) transect provides insights into spatial marine biota and invasion pathways for non-native species - PubMed, accessed July 23, 2025
Long-distance Southern Ocean environmental DNA (eDNA) transect provides insights into spatial marine biota and invasion pathways for non-native species - PubMed, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Environmental DNA metabarcoding primers for freshwater fish detection and quantification: In silico and in tanks - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of National eDNA Reference Centre - EcoDNA
National eDNA Reference Centre - EcoDNA
Contextual Support Government

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Preview of Perfect match: DNA library to help identify species - CSIRO
Perfect match: DNA library to help identify species - CSIRO
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Report Interpretation Guide - Nature Metrics, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support Government

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Surveying rare fishes in rivers | River Ecology and Research - WordPress.com, accessed July 23, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Surveying rare fishes in rivers | River Ecology and Research - WordPress.com, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Toward an ecoregion scale evaluation of eDNA metabarcoding primers: A case study for the freshwater fish biodiversity of the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia) - PubMed, accessed July 23, 2025
Toward an ecoregion scale evaluation of eDNA metabarcoding primers: A case study for the freshwater fish biodiversity of the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia) - PubMed, accessed July 23, 2025
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Toward an ecoregion scale evaluation of eDNA metabarcoding primers: A case study for the freshwater fish biodiversity of the Murray-Darling Basin (Australia) - PubMed, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of UNESCO 'eDNA' initiative to 'unlock' knowledge for biodiversity protection | UN News, accessed July 23, 2025
UNESCO 'eDNA' initiative to 'unlock' knowledge for biodiversity protection | UN News, accessed July 23, 2025
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UNESCO 'eDNA' initiative to 'unlock' knowledge for biodiversity protection | UN News, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of UNESCO launches global eDNA project to study vulnerability of species to climate change at marine World Heritage sites, accessed July 23, 2025
UNESCO launches global eDNA project to study vulnerability of species to climate change at marine World Heritage sites, accessed July 23, 2025
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UNESCO launches global eDNA project to study vulnerability of species to climate change at marine World Heritage sites, accessed July 23, 2025

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Wet Tropics Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) Version 1.1 - Information Sheet - Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025
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Wet Tropics Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) Version 1.1 - Information Sheet - Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of Wet Tropics Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) Version 1.1 - INFORMATION SHEET, accessed July 23, 2025
Wet Tropics Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) Version 1.1 - INFORMATION SHEET, accessed July 23, 2025
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Wet Tropics Biodiversity Planning Assessment (BPA) Version 1.1 - INFORMATION SHEET, accessed July 23, 2025

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Preview of What is environmental DNA (eDNA)? - NatureMetrics, accessed July 23, 2025
What is environmental DNA (eDNA)? - NatureMetrics, accessed July 23, 2025
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Preview of Why eDNA fractions need consideration in biomonitoring - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025
Why eDNA fractions need consideration in biomonitoring - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025
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Why eDNA fractions need consideration in biomonitoring - PMC, accessed July 23, 2025

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Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
  • Land Use Conservation / Protected Natural Areas
  • Assessment Pristine Reference
  • Vegetation Forest
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

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

Notes

The assay was reptile-focused and not a comprehensive multi-taxa survey; site numbers were limited. The benchmark is a proxy and not a definitive final value. Functional range interpretation emphasizes community composition over absolute numbers. No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always better up to natural saturation.