From Australian Oceans Data Network
JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

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

Created 23/06/2025

Updated 23/06/2025

JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

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. Only four individuals have ever been reported in Bathurst Harbour, with the last known sighting occurring in 1992. This study used environmental DNA (eDNA) to determine the presence/absence of the Maugean skate in Bathurst Harbour on the southwest coast of Tasmania. Water samples were collected from the seafloor 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.

Files and APIs

Tags

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Bathurst Harbour (Tasmania) for the endangered Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) (NESP MaC 1.33)
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/6cfe78ec-2fef-482d-ac44-491c71d9a627
Contact Point
Australian Ocean Data Network
Jayson.semmens@utas.edu.au
Reference Period 03/11/2021 - 09/02/2022
Geospatial Coverage Australia
Data Portal Australian Oceans Data Network

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Australian Oceans Data Network "Environmental DNA (eDNA) survey of Bathurst Harbour (Tasmania) for the endangered Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) (NESP MaC 1.33)". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/environmental-dna-edna-survey-of-bathurst-harbour-tasmania-for-the-endangered-maugean-skate-33