Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood

Jessica Tout-Lyon; Elise Furlan; Stephen Morris; Shauna Murray; Penelope Ajani; Akitomo Kawasaki; Matt Rees; Nathan Knott; Paul Humphries; Amina Price; Nicole McCasker; Peta Jeffries; Ryan Lungu; L.J. Baumgartner; Michael Stat; Meaghan Duncan

Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood

Jessica Tout-Lyon
, Elise Furlan
, Stephen Morris
, Shauna Murray
, Penelope Ajani
, Akitomo Kawasaki
, Matt Rees
, Nathan Knott
, Paul Humphries
, Amina Price
, Nicole McCasker
, Peta Jeffries
, Ryan Lungu
, L.J. Baumgartner
, Michael Stat
, Meaghan Duncan

University of Canberra
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI)
University of Technology Sydney
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries
University of Newcastle
OzFish

Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report (non-public)

Abstract

This project utilised environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples collected from New South Wales (NSW) estuaries including the Hastings, the Shoalhaven and Wagonga Inlet between 2018 and 2020. A follow up study was conducted in 2023 as part of an Honours research project and is presented in the Appendix. The primary aim was to explore how recreational fish assemblages were impacted by consecutive extreme weather events, including drought, bushfire, and flood.
KEY OBJECTIVES:
1. Provide critical baseline data on the diversity of recreationally and culturally important fish communities in three NSW estuaries: Hastings River, Shoalhaven River, and Wagonga Inlet,
2. Examine the impacts of climate change and consecutive extreme events on fish assemblages from 2018 to 2020, and
3. Involve recreational fishers as citizen scientists in the collection of eDNA samples to demonstrate their key role in contributing to long-term biomonitoring programs.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Port Macquarie, NSW
Publisher	Charles Sturt University
Commissioning body	Recreational Fishing Trust
Number of pages	177
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-86-467493-4
ISBN (Print)	978-1-86-467494-1
Publication status	Published - 30 Apr 2025

Publication series

Name	Gulbali Report
Publisher	Charles Sturt University
No.	21

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 14 Life Below Water
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood.
Jeffries, P. (Recipient), Baumgartner, L. (Recipient) & Tout-Lyon, J. (Recipient), 31 May 2022
Prize: Grant › Successful

1 Conference/Symposium
1 Public lecture/debate/seminar/presentation

OzFish Fish Focus Talks
Tout-Lyon, J. (Participant)
19 Mar 2025
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Public lecture/debate/seminar/presentation › Community
Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2024
Tout-Lyon, J. (Participant)
Nov 2024
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Conference/Symposium › Academic

5 Abstract
1 Presentation only

Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and post-fire flood
Tout-Lyon, J. A., Duncan, M., Furlan, E., Morris, S., Murray, S., Ajani, P., Kawasaki, A., Rees, M., Knott, N., Humphries, P., Price, A., McCasker, N., Jeffries, P., Lungu, R., Baumgartner, L. & Stat, M., Nov 2024, p. 75. 1 p.
Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

Open Access
File
Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and post-fire flood
Tout-Lyon, J., Duncan, M., Furlan, E., Morris, S., Murray, S., Ajani, P., Kawasaki, A., Rees, M., Knott, N., Humphries, P., Price, A., McCasker, N., Jeffries, P., Lungu, R., Baumgartner, L. & Stat, M., Sept 2024.
Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Baiting and citizen science: A comparative study of BRUVs and eDNA surveys throughout estuaries in New South Wales.
Roe, S., Price, A., Rees, M. & Tout-Lyon, J., Nov 2023, p. 533. 1 p.
Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review

Open Access
File

Cite this

Tout-Lyon, J., Furlan, E., Morris, S., Murray, S., Ajani, P., Kawasaki, A., Rees, M., Knott, N., Humphries, P., Price, A., McCasker, N., Jeffries, P., Lungu, R., Baumgartner, L. J., Stat, M., & Duncan, M. (2025). Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood. (Gulbali Report; No. 21). Charles Sturt University.

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title = "Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood",

abstract = "This project utilised environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples collected from New South Wales (NSW) estuaries including the Hastings, the Shoalhaven and Wagonga Inlet between 2018 and 2020. A follow up study was conducted in 2023 as part of an Honours research project and is presented in the Appendix. The primary aim was to explore how recreational fish assemblages were impacted by consecutive extreme weather events, including drought, bushfire, and flood. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. Provide critical baseline data on the diversity of recreationally and culturally important fish communities in three NSW estuaries: Hastings River, Shoalhaven River, and Wagonga Inlet, 2. Examine the impacts of climate change and consecutive extreme events on fish assemblages from 2018 to 2020, and 3. Involve recreational fishers as citizen scientists in the collection of eDNA samples to demonstrate their key role in contributing to long-term biomonitoring programs.",

author = "Jessica Tout-Lyon and Elise Furlan and Stephen Morris and Shauna Murray and Penelope Ajani and Akitomo Kawasaki and Matt Rees and Nathan Knott and Paul Humphries and Amina Price and Nicole McCasker and Peta Jeffries and Ryan Lungu and L.J. Baumgartner and Michael Stat and Meaghan Duncan",

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Tout-Lyon, J, Furlan, E, Morris, S, Murray, S, Ajani, P, Kawasaki, A, Rees, M, Knott, N, Humphries, P , Price, A , McCasker, N , Jeffries, P, Lungu, R, Baumgartner, LJ, Stat, M & Duncan, M 2025, Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood. Gulbali Report, no. 21, Charles Sturt University, Port Macquarie, NSW.

TY - BOOK

T1 - Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood

AU - Tout-Lyon, Jessica

AU - Furlan, Elise

AU - Morris, Stephen

AU - Murray, Shauna

AU - Ajani, Penelope

AU - Kawasaki, Akitomo

AU - Rees, Matt

AU - Knott, Nathan

AU - Humphries, Paul

AU - Price, Amina

AU - McCasker, Nicole

AU - Jeffries, Peta

AU - Lungu, Ryan

AU - Baumgartner, L.J.

AU - Stat, Michael

AU - Duncan, Meaghan

PY - 2025/4/30

Y1 - 2025/4/30

N2 - This project utilised environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples collected from New South Wales (NSW) estuaries including the Hastings, the Shoalhaven and Wagonga Inlet between 2018 and 2020. A follow up study was conducted in 2023 as part of an Honours research project and is presented in the Appendix. The primary aim was to explore how recreational fish assemblages were impacted by consecutive extreme weather events, including drought, bushfire, and flood. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. Provide critical baseline data on the diversity of recreationally and culturally important fish communities in three NSW estuaries: Hastings River, Shoalhaven River, and Wagonga Inlet, 2. Examine the impacts of climate change and consecutive extreme events on fish assemblages from 2018 to 2020, and 3. Involve recreational fishers as citizen scientists in the collection of eDNA samples to demonstrate their key role in contributing to long-term biomonitoring programs.

AB - This project utilised environmental DNA (eDNA) in water samples collected from New South Wales (NSW) estuaries including the Hastings, the Shoalhaven and Wagonga Inlet between 2018 and 2020. A follow up study was conducted in 2023 as part of an Honours research project and is presented in the Appendix. The primary aim was to explore how recreational fish assemblages were impacted by consecutive extreme weather events, including drought, bushfire, and flood. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. Provide critical baseline data on the diversity of recreationally and culturally important fish communities in three NSW estuaries: Hastings River, Shoalhaven River, and Wagonga Inlet, 2. Examine the impacts of climate change and consecutive extreme events on fish assemblages from 2018 to 2020, and 3. Involve recreational fishers as citizen scientists in the collection of eDNA samples to demonstrate their key role in contributing to long-term biomonitoring programs.

M3 - Commissioned report (non-public)

SN - 978-1-86-467494-1

T3 - Gulbali Report

BT - Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood

PB - Charles Sturt University

CY - Port Macquarie, NSW

ER -

Using eDNA to investigate estuarine fish assemblage composition and detect changes during consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

Fingerprint

Prizes

Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and flood.

Activities

OzFish Fish Focus Talks

Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2024

Research output

Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and post-fire flood

Using eDNA to assess how estuarine fish communities respond to consecutive extreme events of drought, bushfire, and post-fire flood

Baiting and citizen science: A comparative study of BRUVs and eDNA surveys throughout estuaries in New South Wales.

Cite this