eDNA for multiple species in Darebin Creek Catchment
Click here for a 2021 report on eDNA monitoring for vertebrate biodiversity in multiple sites in the Darebin Creek Catchment.
Citizen scientists were trained and deployed to gather water samples from across the Darebin Creek Catchment. Over 50 species were detected at the 12 sites. What is exciting is that the Australian short finned eel was detected at every site along the Darebin Creek just not in the Ivanhoe Wetland. This is a very interesting species as it spends part of its lifecycle in the Coral Sea and part in our Melbourne Waterways. What a trip! They are sensitive to pollution and sometimes that’s the way we find out about larger pollution events sadly. Ducks also are well represented in the survey results which are consistent with our regular sightings of them.
The frog results might look a little thin and that’s because frogs are mostly in water for breeding and each species have a different breeding time. We are currently surveying for Growling Grass Frogs using visual and sound recording methods to help fill the gap on this vulnerable species. Cows, pigs and chickens?! Most likely the DNA from these species come from run off from surrounding area as faeces. This provides us some great baseline data for future project
The Darebin Creek Management Committee acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Darebin Creek, its land and tributaries. The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people have protected and cared for the Darebin Creek for tens of thousands of years. We pay tribute to elders, past present and emerging and extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. If you care and respect the Darebin Creek Country it will care for you.
Website: digital evolution