• IMAS Metadata Catalogue
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Bathurst Harbour (Tasmania) for the endangered Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) (NESP MaC 1.33)

The Maugean Skate Zearaja maugeana is a micro-endemic species known from only two isolated estuaries, Bathurst and Macquarie Harbours in southwestern/western Tasmania. This constitutes one of the most limited distributions of any known extant elasmobranch. As a result, the species is listed as ‘Endangered’ under the Threatened Species Protection Act (Tasmania) and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Commonwealth).

Even though it was first discovered in Bathurst Harbour, most of what is known about the species comes from the Macquarie Harbour population. In fact, only four individuals have ever been reported in Bathurst Harbour, with the last known sighting occurring in 1992.

This study aimed to use eDNA to determine the presence of the Maugean skate in Bathurst Harbour on the southwest coast of Tasmania.

Water samples were collected within 1 m from the sea floor in Bathurst Harbour in November 2021 and February 2022, and in Macquarie Harbour (control samples) in December 2021. Samples were filtered using a self-preserving eDNA sampling system. Following each survey DNA from the samples was extracted and analysed through qPCR amplification. Mitochondrial primer pairs from two gene regions were used to detect the presence of Maugean skate DNA in the samples. Where possible, positive detections were sequenced, and their identity verified.

Simple

Identification info

Date (Creation)
2022-08-31

Point of contact

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Moreno, David
IMAS - Taroona
Private Bag 49
Hobart
Tasmania
7001
Australia
ORCID ID >

Principal investigator

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Semmens, Jayson
IMAS - Taroona
Private Bag 49
Hobart
Tasmania
7001
Australia
ORCID ID >

Status
complete

Point of contact

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Moreno, David
IMAS - Taroona
Private Bag 49
Hobart
Tasmania
7001
Australia
+61 404335962
ORCID ID >

Topic category
  • Biota
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S
E
W


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Temporal extent

Time period
2021-11-03 2022-02-09
Maintenance and update frequency
none-planned

Resource format

Date
Keywords (Theme)
  • eDNA
  • Maugean skate
  • Bathurst Harbour
  • Macquarie Harbour
Keywords (Taxon)
  • Zearaja maugeana
NASA/GCMD Keywords, Version 8.5
  • EARTH SCIENCE | AGRICULTURE | ANIMAL SCIENCE | ANIMAL ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
  • EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
  • EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS | BENTHIC
  • EARTH SCIENCE | BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION | ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES | FISH | SHARKS/RAYS/CHIMAERAS
  • EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS | SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS | ENDANGERED SPECIES

Resource constraints

Other constraints
This dataset is hosted by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, on behalf of NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 1.33.

Resource constraints

Classification
Unclassified

Resource constraints

Use limitation
Data was sourced from the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub – the Marine and Coastal Hub is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), administered by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE).

Resource constraints

Linkage
http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by/4.0/88x31.png

License Graphic

Title
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License


>

Website
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

License Text

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Content Information

Content type
Physical measurement

Distribution Information

Distribution format
  • Microsoft Excel

OnLine resource
DATA ACCESS - Maugean skate eDNA qPCR summary results [direct download]

OnLine resource
Final report [PDF]

OnLine resource
Project website

Resource lineage

Statement
There were 20 sample sites in Bathurst Harbour, five sites in the Bathurst Channel and one site in Melaleuca Lagoon. There were 2 control sites in Macquarie Harbour at locations known to host Maugean skate. All Bathurst Harbour sites were sampled in both November 2021 and February 2022, and Macquarie Harbour control sites were sampled in December 2021. Two replicate water samples were collected from 1 m above the seafloor using a camera bottle. Each sample was thoroughly shaken and filtration through (5 µm filters and/or 0.45 µm filters) occurred immediately after collection to ensure no degradation of eDNA. To provide a positive control, water was sampled from a 750L tank immediately after it had hosted two Maugean skate (captured in Macquarie Harbour in December 2021).
Hierarchy level
Dataset

mdb:MD_Metadata

Metadata identifier
0fe29a80-b529-4230-8878-fe088d799ee1

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Point of contact

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania (UTAS) - Emma Flukes (NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Data Manager (Southern node))
Parent metadata
  • NESP MaC Project 1.33 - Application of environmental DNA to survey Bathurst Harbour Tasmania for the endangered Maugean skate

Type of resource

Resource scope
Dataset
Metadata linkage
http://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au:/geonetwork/srv/en/metadata.show?uuid=0fe29a80-b529-4230-8878-fe088d799ee1

Point of truth URL of this metadata record

Date info (Creation)
2015-05-06T11:44:25
Date info (Revision)
2015-05-06T11:44:25

Metadata standard

Title
ISO 19115-3:2018
 
 

Overviews

Spatial extent

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E
W


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W


Keywords

Bathurst Harbour Macquarie Harbour Maugean skate eDNA
NASA/GCMD Keywords, Version 8.5
EARTH SCIENCE | AGRICULTURE | ANIMAL SCIENCE | ANIMAL ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR EARTH SCIENCE | BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION | ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES | FISH | SHARKS/RAYS/CHIMAERAS EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS | SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS | ENDANGERED SPECIES EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS EARTH SCIENCE | BIOSPHERE | ECOSYSTEMS | MARINE ECOSYSTEMS | BENTHIC

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Access to the portal
Read here the full details and access to the data.

Associated resources

Not available


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