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Water

eDNA shows diverse wildlife in the rivers of the Murray–Darling Basin

Fish, frogs, freshwater turtles, water birds and platypus are among the diverse species found living in waterways across the Murray Darling Basin thanks to an innovative study that uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to better understand the spread of aquatic life throughout the state.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water contributed $60,000 to help facilitate the Great Australian Wildlife Search, led by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and delivered by the Odonata Foundation to identify and map out what wildlife are living in and around the rivers and streams in the Basin.

Using people power, volunteer citizen scientists collected 648 water samples from 324 sites across inland NSW throughout Spring 2023.

Thanks to their efforts we have been able to identify 144 diverse wildlife species with 17 of those being threatened, including the Murray Cod, Purple Spotted Gudgeon and Silver Perch which are native fish species.

Also found living in and around the Basin are:

  • 43 bird species (40 native)
  • 41 fish species (30 native)
  • 32 mammal species (20 native)
  • 20 amphibian species (all native and includes the tusked frog which is threatened in Queensland)
  • 8 reptile species (includes one turtle species – the eastern long-necked turtle)

The species were identified by EnviroDNA using ground-breaking environmental DNA (eDNA) technology that analyses samples of water from the Basin to determine what kind of creatures are calling the waterways home.

These insights will now be used by the NSW Government to understand the health of the Basin and help inform water management decisions to ensure we protect our native aquatic life and safeguard their habitats for future generations.

To find out more about how we use eDNA to monitor our water dependent wildlife, visit Environmental outcomes monitoring and research program.

The results from the study are publicly available via a user-friendly interactive map on the Great Australian Wildlife Search website.

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Director of Water Science Lynn Tamsitt said:  

“It’s been incredible to play a role in this fascinating study alongside Odonata and the Murray Darling Basin Authority, and of course it wouldn’t have been successful without the support of the enthusiastic volunteer scientists who collected samples from their own local rivers.

“Being able to harness this cutting-edge eDNA technology to analyse water samples from around the state is invaluable and provides us with access to a huge range of data that wouldn’t normally be possible, especially from water samples alone.

“Having a current snapshot of aquatic life in and around the Basin is a powerful tool for the NSW Government in ensuring we make science-based decisions when it comes to supporting the health of the waterways that run through regional NSW and protecting our most vulnerable native species.”

River red gums, Murray River.
Diverse species found living in waterways across the Murray Darling Basin.