Canberra, May 28 -- Australian researchers have mapped biodiversity across Australia's state of New South Wales' (NSW) estuaries using cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technology.
The project, led by Southern Cross University and supported by the NSW and Australian governments through the Estuary Asset Protection Program, spans 1,000 km of coastline and more than 33 estuaries, a press release from the university in northern NSW said on Wednesday.
The technique, known as eDNA metabarcoding, detects traces of genetic material, from scales to faeces, left behind in water or sediment. It allows scientists to identify hundreds of species at once, including fish, birds, plants, and invasive pests, the release said.
As the first statew...