Oral Presentation Australian Freshwater Sciences Society Conference 2024

Using citizen science to monitor aquatic biodiversity across a million square kilometers  (113528)

Bronwyn Ayre 1 , Dale McNeil 1 , Simon Kaminskas 2 , Andrew Weeks 3 , Sam Marwood 4 , Lisa Thurtell 5 , Michael Shackleton 6 , Bec Wood 5 , Nicole Carroll 2
  1. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Griffith, New South Wales, Australia
  2. Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  3. EnviroDNA, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. Odonata, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  6. La Trobe Univeristy, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia

The Murray–Darling Basin covers 1,059,000 square kilometres or 14% of Australia's land area. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is required to report on the condition of the Basin including the population extent of native fish and waterbird species. In 2021 MDBA launched the Basin Condition Monitoring Program, a $7.5 million quadruple bottom line monitoring program codesigned with community members. One of the program goals is to explore how community members and community knowledge can be incorporated into science and monitoring programs. In 2023 the MDBA partnered with Odonata Foundation, Latrobe University, NSW DCCEEW and EnviroDNA to roll out the Great Australian Wildlife Search across the Basin. Over 200 citizen science volunteers collected eDNA samples at 324 sites across the Basin between September to November 2023. Using both vertebrate and fish eDNA barcoding, 144 species including 17 threatened and 26 invasive species were detected. Not only is this data being used to help inform MDBA evaluation and reporting requirements, but it is also connecting community members to local water bodies, building their understanding of the complexities of monitoring large areas, and their knowledge of the MDBA and its role. A repeat sampling season over October-November 2024 will be used to explore changes in aquatic biodiversity results and levels of community engagement.