2025/01/15 by Emily P. Hoffmann, Chris J. Jolly, Kathryn L. Dawkins +5 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies #Identification and Quantification in Food #Species Distribution and Climate Change
paper · pdf · doi:10.1071/pc24072
openalex publication_date 2025/01/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
It can be challenging to reliably detect rare or cryptic species. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging tool for detecting species and is increasingly being used to detect reptiles in terrestrial environments that are costly or difficult to survey or monitor using traditional methods. Here, we trialled eDNA metabarcoding to detect one of Australia’s most threatened and least known reptile species, the Arnhem rock skink (Bellatorias obiri). At the only site where they were known to persist, we sampled soil from 12 rock crevices, including four with high levels of activity of the target species, as well as water from three adjacent pools. We were unable to identify DNA of B. obiri in any of the soil or water samples, suggesting multiple false-negative errors, despite our successful amplification of B. obiri DNA from an incidental scat sample. We were able to identify 15 non-target vertebrate taxa from our samples. Given that samples were taken from a site where B. obiri was known to be present, the eDNA metabarcoding technique trialled here does not appear to be an effective method for detecting this species. Whilst eDNA metabarcoding is an emerging and powerful tool in ecology and conservation, our pilot study highlights that challenges remain in its application for detecting rare or cryptic terrestrial reptiles.