DETECT Archives

Harnessing environmental DNA to reveal biogeographical patterns of non‑indigenous species for improved co‑governance of the marine environment in Aotearoa New Zealand

07/11/2023

A case study on using eDNA to enhance marine biosecurity in New Zealand has recently been published in collaboration with the Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, the Northland Regional Council and Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust.

Wānanga at the Otawhiwhi Marae in Tauranga

03/10/2023

As part of the MBIE-funded ‘Transforming Coastal Monitoring’ research programme, the Detect team went on another mission of eDNA outreach to the Otawhiwhi Marae in Tauranga Moana to showcase some of the eDNA tools developed in the Biosecurity Toolbox programme.

A new generation of eDNA detectives at the Cawthron Inspire festival

03/10/2023

The Marine Biosecurity Toolbox “Detect” team recently held an environmental DNA (eDNA) biosecurity workshop during the CAWTHRON INSPIRE Festival.

Marine Biosecurity Toolbox equips Curious Minds project to ignite students’ interest in marine conservation

29/06/2023

Collaboration with the Sails for Science NZ outreach program, engaging year 10 students in student-led detection of invasive species in the marine environment using molecular surveillance.

Pest Alert Tool—a web-based application for flagging species of concern in metabarcoding datasets

06/06/2023

A new online tool called the Pest Alert Tool has been developed to screen high-throughput sequencing datasets for species of concern, providing a valuable resource for biodiversity management.

Scientists empower Nayland College students with hands-on marine biosecurity activities

28/05/2023

Scientists conducted a hands-on educational event at Nayland College, engaging hundreds of Year 9 students in activities related to marine biosecurity. The event aimed to inspire the students, build scientific literacy, and create pathways for future scientists.

Harnessing decay rates for coastal marine biosecurity applications: A review of environmental DNA and RNA fate

15/04/2023

A review on the degradation mechanisms and fate of environmental nucleic acids (eNAs) in the marine environment, providing guidelines for accurate decay rates and emphasizing their importance in building effective marine biosecurity tools for target detection and biodiversity assessment.

Environmental DNA tools embark on BLAKE expedition to the Subantarctic

01/03/2023

Marine Biosecurity Toolbox scientist Dr Ulla von Ammon joined the BLAKE Expedition and shared with the expedition team the eDNA tools, including the newly designed Cruising Speed Net, for detecting unwanted organisms in marine environments.

New best-practice guidelines for environmental DNA testing in Australia and New Zealand aim to enhance quality assurance and decision-making

10/02/2023

Newly introduced best-practice guidelines for environmental DNA (eDNA) testing in Australia and New Zealand provide standardized methods and quality assurance measures to support pest detection, biodiversity monitoring, and species identification.

Harnessing passive sampling and DNA extraction innovations for eDNA-based surveillance

10/09/2022

A recent study explored new methods for marine surveillance using eDNA. The researchers compared traditional filtration methods with passive sampling and self-contained DNA extraction. Passive sampling using materials like artificial sponges and fishing nets showed similar results to active filtration in detecting fish diversity. The study suggests that passive sampling is a promising approach for eDNA monitoring and contribute to improving non-invasive monitoring techniques for marine environments.

Sign-up to our Newsletter