![]() “Many platypus populations are now located in highly modified waterways that will come under greater stress with climate change and an increasing human population,” says Josh Griffiths, senior wildlife ecologist at cesar. This information will guide the next steps for protection of the platypus and the ecosystems they depend on, throughout Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. ![]() This will be the largest survey ever undertaken for the platypus, and it will allow researchers to comprehensively map their current distribution. Information gained from the eDNA analysis will allow the researchers to create a spatial map of the species present in hundreds of waterways in southeastern Australia-and, in particular, determine whether platypuses are present at the sampled sites. ![]() We can extract DNA from these environmental samples-and identify the species that left their DNA behind.” “This can be skin cells, hair, feces or mucous. “All animals leave traces of their presence behind as they move through an environment,” says Reid Tingley, Ph.D., a research fellow at the University of Melbourne. The project uses innovative technology in which samples of water are tested for traces of environmental DNA (eDNA) to learn about the species present in freshwater ecosystems. The University of Melbourne, San Diego Zoo Global and cesar have teamed up to begin a unique project designed to learn more about the elusive platypus and threats to its survival.
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