Australian scientists have developed a cutting-edge test that could give the endangered largetooth sawfish a better chance of survival.
Researchers working from James Cook University in Queensland, have found a way to reliably test large bodies of water for the DNA of the prehistoric-looking fish and help make habitats easier to identify.
Scientists previously have had to rely on costly fish surveys and locals’ knowledge to understand where the critically endangered species lives.
Prof Colin Simpfendorfer said the technique had proved to be accurate at remote water holes in the Northern Territory.
It was less effective in flowing rivers, but he expected that would be overcome as the technology was refined.
“This is very much a trial phase and it will be solved quite easily given some more time,” he said.
The test is a potentially crucial development for the species, which may already be extinct in 50 countries. Northern Australia is one of the last places where it can still reliably be found.
“We don’t even know if they still exist in many countries,” said Simpfendorfer. “Applying this approach globally will enable us to rapidly find threatened populations and prioritise their protection.”
The testing technique is known as eDNA, or environmental DNA.
Simpfendorfer said its applications were not limited to fresh water or conservation applications.
“There is a big push to roll it out globally,” he said. “It has many other potential uses, such as detecting invasive pest species at ports.”
Resource: www.theguardian.com
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