THE EXTRACT - DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

Winding up 2023 with some eDNA stats

Welcome to WilderWindUp 2023, where we celebrate a year of ground-breaking achievements in eDNA monitoring. Thanks to your efforts, we've set a new record in the number of eDNA samples processed, and almost doubled last year’s total volume of water filtered. This led to the identification of nearly a thousand more species than in 2022, and greatly enriched our understanding of Aotearoa’s aquatic flora and fauna.

Our overnight passive sampling pods have also been a big hit this year, especially for those doing pest mammal surveillance work. Passive samplers spent over 79,009 hours accumulating eDNA in streams (up 15,310 hours on the 2022 total) and showed improved detection rates for remnant rat populations over the standard syringe kits.

We saw one of the highest ever TICI stream health scores in 2023, with an ultra-pristine 132.93 from the Eastern Hohohu River on the West Coast of the South Island. This outstanding sample was submitted by the West Coast Regional Council as part of Ministry for the Environment’s national eDNA biobanking programme. The site had an impressive diversity of native fauna, including kōaro, giant kokopu, and the spiny-gilled mayfly Coloburiscus humeralis.

However, it wasn’t enough to defeat Nick Foster’s 2022 sample from Teichelmann Creek in the predator free Perth Valley, with its unassailable TICI score of 135.03. Your title is safe for another year Nick!

Wilderlab goes global

We continued to expand our global impact during 2023, with over 10% of samples coming from outside Aotearoa. Of the 14,430 eDNA samples we processed in 2023, 1,340 came from Australia, the Pacific Islands and places as far afield as Mexico, Canada, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

We’ve seen an astonishing diversity of weird and wonderful creatures (or at least their DNA) and sequenced samples from a wide variety of habitats including coral reefs, tropical rainforests, seagrass beds and kelp forests.

A highlight that stands out for us was the work we did with our friend and collaborator Dr. Joey Dibattista, who was awarded the Blue World 2023 Valerie Taylor Ocean Prize for his community science eDNA project in Sydney Harbour. Joey’s samples revealed thousands of interesting species from kangaroos to kookaburra, and even threw up a surprise hit on a Californian Sea Lion, which we later traced back to the nearby Taronga Zoo seal enclosure!

In news just in, Blue World have renewed the funding to extend the eDNA sampling programme at Parsley Bay in Southern Sydney Harbour into 2024. Interested Sydneysiders can get involved and head along to the next event on 20th January 2024 at Parsley Bay Reserve.

Use our eDNA explorer mapp at wilderlab.co.nz/explore to discover the rich biodiversity in Sydney Harbour. Thanks again Joey and Blue World for making these samples public for others to explore!

Freshwater golden clams: staying ahead of the spread

Following the discovery of the golden clam Corbicula fluminea in the Waikato River earlier this year, our lab team swung into action to help track the spread of this prolific invader.

An initial scan of our eDNA records revealed a sequence matching Corbicula fluminea appeared in a community group’s eDNA sample from the Waikato River in April, around a month before the incursion was discovered. We then pulled some old samples from the freezer and re-tested them with a new clam-specific assay. This exercise revealed that Corbicula DNA was present in the Waikato River as far back as September 2022, underscoring the importance of building a ‘biobank’ of historic eDNA samples for the sake of posterity.

Working in collaboration with the MPI response team, we then integrated the new clam assay into our comprehensive testing panel, with the aim of establishing a national passive surveillance programme through the efforts of our eDNA community. The new clam assay also screens for other invasive molluscs including the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussel Dreissena bugensis.

Since July of this year, we have screened over 2500 eDNA samples from all over the motu using this new clam assay. Thankfully, the eDNA results suggest that Corbicula confined to the Waikato catchment, and neither of the other nasties appear to have made it to Aotearoa - yet.

This serves as a timely reminder to stay vigilant, and clean, check and dry boats and other gear when enjoying water sports this Summer.

Freshwater golden clams can reach up to 2-3cm and produce hundreds of offspring per day. Learn more about our efforts to track this invader with eDNA at wilderlab.co.nz/golden-clam. Photo credit: NIWA

Empowering community conservation in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle

We were privileged to be invited to the Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao Cyclone Recovery wānanga, an initiative led by the NZ Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Held between November 5th and 9th in Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Te Matau a Māui (Hawke’s Bay), these events brought environmental experts together to explore the use of eDNA in cyclone recovery and environmental monitoring.

Our Freshwater and Community Science Lead, Amy Gault, shared her expertise in eDNA fundamentals and data interpretation during the workshops. Her sessions provided valuable insights and practical knowledge to the attendees, and the conversations enriched our team’s appreciation of Māori perspectives on the use of genetic tools for conservation and biosecurity.

The wānanga emphasized the power of collaboration in tackling environmental challenges, a principle at the centre of our philosophy.

We’re proud to have played a role in this initiative as the regions rebuild from the Cyclone’s devastating impact, and we remain committed to advancing community-driven environmental projects through knowledge sharing and technical support.

You can read the update here and learn more about other Wai Tuwhera o te Taiao initiatives on the EPA’s website.

Ahuriri Tributaries Catchment Group Trust community seminar at Wharerangi Marae. Photo credit: NZEPA

Charting new waters in river health assessment: a case study from the Manawatū

A ground-breaking collaborative project, driven by a rural community in the Manawatū, is harnessing the power of eDNA to monitor taonga species in the upper river catchment. The initiative focuses on ecological health assessment as the awa navigates through various land uses and environmental pressures.

Funded by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge Rural Professionals Fund, the project brings together a dynamic team of collaborators, including Taiao Ora Contracting, Te Kāuru Hapū Collective, Mauri Oho, Pūhoro STEMM, AgResearch, and Wilderlab, alongside Te Miro's own Penelope and Blair Drysdale.

Penelope and Blair have retired a large part of their farm for replanting and regeneration. With help of the local community, they have planted over 30,000 trees along the riverbank, and the couple hope that biodiversity and water quality will continue to improve along the upper reaches of the river.

To measure their progress, Wilderlab’s Taxon-Independent Community Index (TICI) is being used at two-monthly intervals to analyse the health of five sites along the river, from where it emerges from the Ruahine Ranges to the downstream extent of the farm. This eDNA-based tool is providing a holistic view of the river's biodiversity, revealing how land use impacts water quality and life beneath the surface.

This research not only illustrates the sensitivity of eDNA in detecting taonga species like whīo (blue duck) and dwarf galaxias, but also showcases how eDNA can complement traditional water quality measures for stream health assessment. The TICI effectively captured the environmental gradient and showed interesting patterns of degradation and recovery in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

This collaborative project also gained recognition through a feature in a Country Calendar episode, showcasing the story of monitoring at Te Miro Farm. Preliminary results were presented earlier this week at the annual One Health Aotearoa symposium in Wellington, showcasing the benefits of community-led projects for supporting a One Health vision.

Fun in the field at Te Miro Farm. For those interested in learning more about this project, a detailed report is available on the Our Land and Water website

Customer survey insights: embracing your feedback

A huge thanks everyone who shared their thoughts in our recent customer survey. You scored us a 4.7/5 overall, and we're thrilled to see such high satisfaction with our services. A few of you mentioned that quicker turnaround times would be nice, and others would like faster responses to technical queries. This gives us a valuable steer on what to work on in 2024, and we hope we can continue to exceed your expectations in both service and quality.

We're delighted to announce John Hollows from Ernslaw One as the lucky winner of our 6-replicate eDNA kit giveaway!

As a major forestry company with plantations in South Otago, Ernslaw One are stewards of several streams that are home to the native Pomahaka galaxias. This endemic, non-migratory fish is confined to the tributaries of the Pomahaka River, and while not yet formally described as a species, is classified as Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

John plans to use the kit to pinpoint key habitats for native fish in Ernslaw One forests, which will guide management decisions to ensure the protection of biodiversity in these remote streams.

A recent example of eDNA in action involves the surprise discovery of brown trout and Pomahaka galaxiids above an Ernslaw One forest culvert. In collaboration with Otago Fish & Game, John is in the process of creating a galaxiid sanctuary by translocating the trout and improving the upstream habitat.

Congratulations John, now let that little guy go! 😊

A well-earned break for the Wilderlab team

After another colossal year, our team is looking forward to some much-needed rest and relaxation. We’ll be closed from 22nd December until the 8th of January. Thank you again for the wonderful support during 2023. We can’t wait to see what surprises those A’s, C’s, G’s and T’s hold in store for 2024!