Deep sea ecosystems host diverse and unique habitats, supporting numerous endemic and undiscovered species. Despite recent technological advances facilitating access to the ocean's depths, deployment is restricted by high costs and limited infrastructure. Consequently, the deep-sea remains one of the least explored and understood environments on our planet. This limited understanding hinders effective management strategies against climate change, deep-sea mining, bottom trawling, and overfishing. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, our research program seeks to unveil the hidden diversity of deep-sea ecosystems, aiding sustainable ocean management and conservation goals.
The program has collected deep-sea eDNA samples spanning diverse locations locally (Perth Canyon, Christmas Island, East Australian submarine canyons) and internationally (Pacific Ocean transects, Nova-Canton trough, Tonga Trench). Current work underscores eDNA metabarcoding's efficacy in revealing deep-sea biodiversity and its potential for identifying putative new species or range extensions. However, it also highlights challenges in interpreting eDNA-based patterns, influenced by target taxa and environmental dynamics.
In addition, this project is committed to constructing a biobank to archive eDNA material for future research. By actively seeking and fostering collaborations, we aim to expand sampling efforts and data sharing, enabling a comprehensive exploration of deep-sea ecosystems and contributing to their conservation for future generations.