{"id":26693,"date":"2024-11-13T09:38:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T01:38:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=media-release&p=26693"},"modified":"2024-11-13T09:38:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T01:38:22","slug":"new-era-in-conservation-curtins-edna-program-expands-mission","status":"publish","type":"media-release","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/media-release\/new-era-in-conservation-curtins-edna-program-expands-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"New era in conservation: Curtin\u2019s eDNA program expands mission"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s game changing environmental DNA (eDNA) research program, supporting global conservation efforts, is set to expand with a $7.8 million dollar investment from BHP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The eDNA for Global Environment Studies<\/a> (eDGES) program includes projects monitoring the endangered Pilbara Olive Python in Western Australia, protecting native birds in Chile\u2019s high-altitude wetlands, detecting elusive underground invertebrates and developing new tests to identify invasive marine species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Morten Allentoft<\/a>, head of the Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory at Curtin, said the research is uncovering valuable insights into the challenges different species are facing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLiving organisms leave behind traces of DNA in water, soil or air and we can use these genetic breadcrumbs to monitor the health of habitats, track endangered species and detect invasive ones,\u201d Professor Allentoft said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the past five years, our eDGES program has delivered new high precision biomonitoring tools and provided fundamental new knowledge on biodiversity in threatened ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis second stage of eDGES will elevate research efforts even further, with some projects ongoing and new ones just about to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program co-leader Professor Euan Harvey<\/a>, from Curtin\u2019s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the new funding is a pivotal step in pushing the boundaries of what\u2019s possible in environmental monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited to embark on this next phase of research, which will help us support sustainable environmental management across the globe,\u201d Professor Harvey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we face unprecedented environmental changes, our goal with the eDGES program is to create a comprehensive understanding of biodiversity that can influence policy and preservation practices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BHP Head of Biodiversity Dr Tim Cooper said the company is proud to support innovative projects like eDGES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe eDGES program has the potential to create a new generation of biodiversity conservation tools to help industry and government make informed decisions,\u201d Dr Cooper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe program is funded by our Social Investment Framework under the \u2018Environment\u2019 stream – helping to fill knowledge gaps for better biodiversity and conservation outcomes to help us improve sustainability in our mining processes, while also training the next generation of genetic and data scientists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new funding will extend the eDGES program for another four years, building on the success of its first stage, which launched in 2020. The nine ongoing projects include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n