A new DNA library launched today will make it quicker and easier to monitor and manage Australia's biodiversity, introducing a new tool to better protect our ocean and land ecosystems from mounting environmental pressures.
The National Biodiversity DNA Library (NBDL), launched by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, is a world-first resource to provide scientists with extensive and trusted DNA reference sequences so they can match and identify animal and plant species from DNA shed into the environment (eDNA).
CSIRO Director of the NBDL, Dr Jenny Giles, said the resource and its initial data release would help researchers, governments and industry to describe and track Australia's biodiversity and ecosystem health, and detect changes and threats.
"The NBDL will enable monitoring of ecosystems quickly and at scale using eDNA," Dr Giles said.
"While we can now generate huge numbers of DNA reads from water, soil and air samples, the lack of an extensive and reliable library like the NBDL to accurately identify them to species has really held back these powerful new techniques.
"The first data release alone greatly increases our ability to monitor fish species just by reading eDNA in seawater samples. Already we've seen 10-40% increases in the number of fish species detected in eDNA datasets across Australia. The NBDL will be game changing."
The NBDL's initial data release, funded by the Minderoo Foundation, provides reference sequences for almost 2,500 marine fish species – about half of all fish that call Australia home – from specimens held in research collections at the Australian Museum, Queensland Museum and CSIRO's Australian National Fish Collection.
Data is also being released from a partnership with Parks Australia on marine invertebrates, macroalgae and seagrasses, including sea stars and sea cucumbers from Museums Victoria.
In time, the NBDL will include all scientifically named Australian species of animals, plants, and key fungi, algae, and pest species.
"The NBDL is far more than a set of DNA reference sequences. It's critical national infrastructure to enable a new generation of monitoring technologies through trusted DNA reference data that keeps pace with our understanding of Australia's biodiversity. As we add to the library, its impact will grow over time to help Australia tackle urgent environmental and biosecurity challenges," Dr Giles explained.
"It delivers high accuracy and ongoing reliability, with each DNA reference sequence linked to an expertly identified specimen in an Australian biodiversity collection.
"The NBDL data is backed by experts in our national museums and herbaria and made possible by cost-effective technology developed at CSIRO to sequence DNA from large numbers of sometimes very old collection specimens. This authoritative data will raise the bar for identifying Australian species by their DNA."
Dr Shannon Corrigan, Manager for Research, Marine Genomics as part of Minderoo Foundation's OceanOmics program, said comprehensive and authoritative DNA reference databases such as the NBDL would transform biodiversity science and conservation management.
"By applying a DNA lens, powered by the NBDL, we can fill critical gaps in our understanding of Australia's flora and fauna, revolutionising our ability to deploy cutting-edge DNA-based wildlife technologies – including eDNA monitoring – to characterise and manage the biodiversity of our own backyard," Dr Corrigan said.
"For example, a single water sample from a coral reef can contain traces from over a hundred species of fish and we are now better able to name those DNA fragments. The NBDL also makes it possible to distinguish closely-related species, accurately identify threatened Australian species, and even identify ocean wanderers like Manta Rays and Makos when they return from the deep blue."
Bioplatforms Australia spokesperson Sarah Richmond said reference genomic data is essential infrastructure for modern environmental science.
"The NBDL provides verified reference sequences that make environmental DNA monitoring more accurate and scalable. It adds an important capability for environmental and species managers, supporting a more complete understanding of the state and change of Australia's biodiversity and ecosystems," Ms Richmond said.
The NBDL's partners include CSIRO, Bioplatforms Australia (enabled by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy), Minderoo Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Parks Australia through the Ocean Discovery and Restoration Program, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Antarctic Division, Illumina, Taxonomy Australia and Australia's network of museums and herbaria.
The NBDL's partners include CSIRO, Bioplatforms Australia (enabled by the Australian Government's National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy), Minderoo Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Parks Australia through the Ocean Discovery and Restoration Program, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Antarctic Division, Illumina, Taxonomy Australia and Australia's network of museums and herbaria.
The new NBDL Portal and guide are publicly available and free to use.
Images and b roll available here .
