eDNA Biodiversity Detection

AUS-AMR-AGR-DNA General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

8 species/plot

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

eDNA Biodiversity Detection (Vertebrates): 8 Native Species Detected per waterbody.

Metric Definition:

Number of unique native vertebrate taxa identified per waterbody using eDNA metabarcoding

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the average number of native vertebrate species detected per waterbody using eDNA metabarcoding in agricultural crop production areas of the Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands biome.

Justification:

This value represents the average native vertebrate richness detected in farm dams under Landcare management, considered a proxy for 'best-practice' in the absence of direct data for the target biome/land use.

Sources (1)

Farm Dam eDNA Biodiversity Report July 2019 - EnviroDNA Journal

Farm Dam eDNA Biodiversity Report July 2019 - EnviroDNA

View Source

Supporting Sources (12)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)

View Source

Bioregional and subregional framework | Biodiversity - Environment and Heritage, accessed August 11, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

South Australian Arid Lands Biodiversity Strategy - Convention on ...

View Source

Preview of Detection of vertebrates from natural and artificial inland water bodies in a semi‐arid habitat using eDNA from filtered, swept, and sediment samples - Bohrium

Detection of vertebrates from natural and artificial inland water bodies in a semi‐arid habitat using eDNA from filtered, swept, and sediment samples - Bohrium

Direct Evidence Journal

Joint media release: eDNA results reveal rich biodiversity in the Murray–Darling Basin

View Source

eDNA & Biodiversity Monitoring for Regenerative Agriculture - Nature Metrics

Contextual Support Journal

eDNA & Biodiversity Monitoring for Regenerative Agriculture - Nature Metrics

View Source

eDNA explained: unlocking nature's hidden biodiversity - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025

Methodology Source Government

www.csiro.au

View Source

eDNA guidelines – Environomics Future Science Platform - CSIRO Research

Contextual Support Government

Categories - environmental DNA - CSIRO Data Access Portal

View Source

eDNA results from the Great Australian Wildlife Search | Murray–Darling Basin Authority, accessed August 10, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Murray–Darling Basin Authority. (2024). EDNA Results From The Great Australian Wildlife Search.

View Source

Preview of Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - bioRxiv

Environmental DNA reveals temporal and spatial variability of invertebrate communities in arid-lands ephemeral water bodies - bioRxiv

Methodology Source

Artificial Waterbodies: A Valuable Source of eDNA for Detecting Threatened Birds - PMC

View Source

Preview of Identifying error and accurately interpreting environmental DNA metabarcoding results A case study to detect vertebrates at arid zone waterholes, accessed July 23, 2025,

Identifying error and accurately interpreting environmental DNA metabarcoding results A case study to detect vertebrates at arid zone waterholes, accessed July 23, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Detection of vertebrates from natural and artificial inland water ..., accessed July 19, 2025

View Source

Regenerative agriculture in Australia: the changing face of farming - Frontiers, accessed August 4, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Regenerative agriculture is key to dry season preparation - Soils For Life, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source

Revolutionising environmental monitoring using eDNA - CSIRO, accessed August 12, 2025

Methodology Source Government

Environmental DNA (eDNA) - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

View Source

Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis - High Performance Computing Facility - UMBC

Methodology Source GreyLiterature

Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis - High Performance Computing Facility - UMBC

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Arid Mountain Ranges & Uplands
Land Use Agricultural Crop Production
Assessment Agricultural Biodiversity Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

Confidence is Low due to the significant mismatch in biome (temperate vs. arid) and the citizen-science nature of the data collection.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-AMR-AGR-DNA family.