Low-density detection of invasive fish

Dr. Elise Furlan

With over 15 years’ experience in molecular genetics, Elise was one of the first researchers in Australia to develop techniques to analyse environmental DNA (eDNA). She was instrumental in the creation of eDNA facilities at the University of Canberra which, combined with a trace DNA laboratory, enable high-sensitivity eDNA detection while minimizing contamination. Elise’s eDNA research focuses predominately on detection of aquatic species from freshwater samples. She has used a single-species approach to inform of the presence or absence of native and invasive species, and has employed metabarcoding to detect the presence of multiple species simultaneously. Elise has applied this approach to determine the diet composition of various species and to detect biodiversity at a site and is currently working on techniques to improve estimates of species rank abundance.