The marine environment of New Zealand contains over 10,000 known species, many of which have not been DNA-sequenced and therefore are absent from the environmental DNA (eDNA) reference library. To minimise this issue, two projects were commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment to sequence stored specimens from the Wellington region (Stage 1) and Otago Harbour (Stage 2).
In the Wellington project, a total of 82 specimens were DNA sequenced. Of these, 48 taxa were sequenced for the first time. In Otago Harbour, a total of 68 specimens were sequenced with 24 taxa sequenced for the first time.
These results significantly expand the breadth of the marine eDNA reference dataset and improve the quality of eDNA-based biodiversity assessments:
Report 1: Marine invertebrate voucher specimen sequence typing (October 2022)
Report 2: Marine invertebrate voucher specimen sequence typing (October 2023)
The marine environment of New Zealand contains over 10,000 known species, many of which have not been DNA-sequenced and therefore are absent from the environmental DNA (eDNA) reference library. To minimise this issue, two projects were commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment to sequence stored specimens from the Wellington region (Stage 1) and Otago Harbour (Stage 2).
In the Wellington project, a total of 82 specimens were DNA sequenced. Of these, 48 taxa were sequenced for the first time. In Otago Harbour, a total of 68 specimens were sequenced with 24 taxa sequenced for the first time.
These results significantly expand the breadth of the marine eDNA reference dataset and improve the quality of eDNA-based biodiversity assessments:
Report 1: Marine invertebrate voucher specimen sequence typing (October 2022)
Report 2: Marine invertebrate voucher specimen sequence typing (October 2023)